Mind Mapping A Better WBS

[ Login/Subscribe ]

Features

Departments

PPM

Tools

Executive

Resources

About Us

Home > Tools > Reviews/Roundups

Mind Mapping A Better WBS
Andy Makar (September 10, 2009)

The integration of project management practices and mind mapping tools is still a relatively new concept. Here’s a look at how one mind-mapping solution can help project managers quickly generate a work breakdown structure and calculate a bottom-up estimate.

A quick web search of “mind mapping software” yields more than 94 million results, including several leading providers such as MindJet, FreeMind and iMindMap, among others. However, because the integration of project management and mind-mapping software is still a relatively new concept, only a few software vendors provide support for project management processes. I recently started working with MatchWare MindView 3 and found it offers an impressive set of features for the project manager looking to quickly generate a work breakdown structure (WBS) and calculate a bottom up estimate.

Matchware MindView 3 enables project managers to brainstorm and visualize ideas quickly. It is tailored to the project management practitioner with a set of features that are native to the application and do not require third-party software. The two key features that converted me to a project management MindView evangelist are the WBS creation and the roll-up estimation features.

Traditional mind mapping includes a hub-and-spoke model with branches and nodes.

Please login/register to read the entire article.

Sponsored Announcements and Special Offers

Project Management Software That Breaks the Mold - Is your team is struggling under the weight of outdated schedules, multiple spreadsheets, and mountains of email? Get organized, get visibility, and save up to 3 hours a day with LiquidPlanner. Scheduling has never been easier with drag-n-drop prioritization that fits the way YOUR team works. Free for 30 days.

Resource Planning Summit, Sept. 19-21, 2010, La Jolla, CA - Resource Planning is HOT today! Opening Keynoter Mike Hanford, Research Director at Gartner, will describe why, and what firms must do about it. Nine industry speakers will describe the startling results they have achieved. If you have anything to do with resource management, register NOW!

ProjectWorld® & World Congress for Business Analysts® is the premier conference for advancing collaboration through practice. The high level content cannot be found at any other industry event because it stretches far beyond the fundamentals to provide leadership, strategy and enterprise wide information - exactly what you need to be more valuable to yourself and your organization.

Are you ready to gain the highest recognition for a BA and apply the best practices defined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge®? Let us help you prepare for Certified Business Analysis Professional® certification with our CBAP® Exam Prep Course. We also provide CBAP® Application Workshops (free webinars) to help you successfully get approved for the CBAP® application.

Are your Business Analysis Skills Current? Business analysis is not just about IT requirements anymore. Organizations are looking for a new breed of professionals to bridge the business and technology gap with value-centric solutions. Develop the fundamental skills and best practices you need to stay ahead of changes in your field with our business analysis training offerings.

@task
BAM! BA Newsletter
BAMentor
IIL
Keller Graduate School
LiquidPlanner
Management Concepts
Microsoft
PM War Stories
PPM Executive Newsletter
Resource Plan Summit '10
RMC Project Mgmt
Stanford University
Walden University

September 2010:

What are the main reasons that projects fall behind schedule?