Software can map thoughts, speed meetings

By MIKE BERMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
March 10, 2004

A penny for your thoughts.

Okay, with inflation, a dollar!

Have you ever wondered what actually goes into the decision-making process?

MindManager X5 Pro ($299) from MindJet LLC actually maps out the thought process, whether it be for cooking lasagna for 15 people or for planning your next corporate takeover.

Of course its real goal is to organize all the bits of information and data that go into making those critical decisions that can make or break your company. Simply put, it's an alternative to note pads, white boards and flip charts, organizing your thoughts into a map, giving you a visual presentation of how all the pieces fit together.

Designed to integrate with Microsoft Office, MindManager can take information from Word, Project, Outlook and other programs and map them, enabling you to see how a project is coming together and what gaps need to be filled. Then that data can be exported to any of those programs or to a Web page.

According to the folks at MindJet, a few of the key benefits are:

• You can increase the number of new ideas generated during brainstorming to at least 20 percent.
• Project success rates can be increased by at least 20 percent.
• Time spent transcribing and distributing notes are reduced by at least 30 percent.
• Projects can be moved from brainstorming and planning stages to implementation 20 percent faster.
• Group decisions are made at least 20 percent faster.
• Time spent at meetings are reduced by 20 percent.
• You can understand concepts at least 30 percent faster.

It's also extremely easy to use. You can drag and drop bits of data onto your "map" of ideas, import them from other programs or simply type them where you want them.

The process, again as outlined by MindJet, is relatively simple. Basically you use the program to build a meeting agenda map, attaching pertinent data needed for discussion; project the map onto a wall while capturing and organizing the information you've gathered in "real time;" assign tasks and resources to the map; and distribute the meeting results as PDF, Word or PowerPoint documents or as a Web page.

The key here is to cut down on endless meetings and make your staff more productive.

More information can be found at www.mindjet.com. Also, while you're there, you may want to order "The Cancer Code," a book by Hobart Swan on how Mike Jeter battled leukemia and developed MindManager.

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