Mind Maps - For Communication or Organization?

Here's a question I'd like the answer to: if you use mind maps, do you use them primarly for organizing your own ideas and thoughts or do you use them primarly to communicate?

I'm probably going to write a Working Smarter article on the subject at some point in time but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask :p

Personally, I use them almost exclusively for organization.

I primarly use mind maps to communicate to others. eg. procedures or steps to follow

Brian

I tend to use them in two parts of the process.  Firstly to jump start my own thinking - I find the structure and spacial allocation of a mind map helpful at the start but I then tend to generate less structured "bubbles" of thought without using any tools: some might be textual, some visual, some simply post it notes.

At the end, I often find the use of a clear, printed mind map can be good for communicating the broad shape of an idea I am pursuing, or even as the start point for my staff to work on developing a formal solution.

Bit of both worlds I guess ... but that is the beauty of this particular tool; it is what you want it to be.

I went ahead and created a blog entry on Working Smarter on the subject.

http://blog.smartdraw.com/archive/2008/07/24/mind-maps-for-communication-or-organization.aspx

I can see them used for collaborative communication, but I have a hard time imagining myself using a full mind map in a PowerPoint presentation.

Interesting discussion on mind maps. I found that I use mind maps primarily for organisation within my business as it clarifies the jumble in my head and allows me to look at all aspects of what I am either brainstorming or trying to find some order or direction for.

However, mind maps are not only suitable for business purposes, they can also be a great help  in planning holidays or business trips particularly overseas, moving house or office, planning special events, shows and exhibitions, personal and business goals and much more. We need to think outside the square to fully utilize this excellent concept to it's maximum capacity.

I use mind maps for just about everything: managing large and small projects, creating and making presentations (beats PowerPoint hands down), analyzing requests for proposals and preparing proposals, analyzing and structuring any problem I endeavor, studying textbooks, keeping a To Do list, etc..

For example, to prepare for the PMP certification exam I took the PMBOK© and made about 80 mind maps. Similarly, I took the PRINC2 manual and made about 110 mind maps that I use to manage any project. The bad news is that I d not use SmartDraw for this but specialized mind mapping software. I do wish, though, SmartDraw would be integrated into that software as is some lesser known drawing tool (I think it is called something like Visio, [smile]). 

Speaking about PRINCE2... In project management it's a very good idea to break down the work to be done / products to smaller pieces in order to define the scope and make sure nothing is left out. In PRINCE2 this is called a Product Breakdown Structure - a starting point for any planning. For me, this is probably the strongest application of mindmaps on business level (it works with minutes nicely too tough). Mindmap software really helps to facilitate this process.