Visual thinkers need to take another look

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Visual thinkers need to take another look

4 July 2010 1,335 views View Comments

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Visual thinkers need to take a second look at current information management practices. We must challenge current thinking regarding the tools, techniques and Mindset regarding visual mapping.

Many new Information mapping software offerings have exploded onto the scene. Some products may be around for a while to challenge the heavy weights, and many shall simply fall by the wayside. There’s a trend in aggregating other graphical tools into these products, making them turnkey for process, system and project management.

These products have evolved into what I term Visual mapping (multiple formats). This includes but is not limited to Mind/concept/flow/argument mapping. There are many more formats covered under the visual mapping umbrella, such as project management formats. It’s not just about Mind maps as some would have us believe; surely we’ve moved way beyond the constraints of a single format?

Effective Information management is the unique attribute associated with the successful creation, management and exchange of data. Information is summative data which has to be contextualised to be relevant and useful for further processing into an intelligent knowledge data base.

Information has become a monetized commodity that is realized within organizations when they use the tools, techniques and mindset of visual mapping. Of course one size doesn’t fit all; but the point is to realise the potential for being unique in your use of these tools.

For the most part Mind mapping has not offered a solutions approach to information management, and this in one of the reasons why it has struggled to burst into the mainstream. There are indeed new solution focused products available that are challenging, changing and improving our current information management practices. Of all the information portals I am aware of; Roy Grubb writes with the most intelligent and informative view of this field found at http://bit.ly/fxQHH

The specific techniques of Visual-knowledge mapping used within your environment will (no doubt), over time, become standardised within your arena of use. The mindset of Visual mapping is associated with the application of whole brained thinking. Integrating linear/nonlinear management of data, information and knowledge data bases is in the application of the mindset.

What unique techniques do you employ that have made significant impacts upon your information management arena? IMO; Integrating linear/nonlinear is now expected, even demanded by the users of Mind-Visual-Knowledge mapping products. These users have evolved way past mere Mind mapping. We can now utilize software products that offer flexible frameworks with multiple formats that supercharge our information management skills.

Wallace Tait: Visualmapper