Asana vs MindManager

• Fast: Unlike other PM platforms I've used, Asana is very fast. In fact, it's so fast that when you leave a comment on a task, anyone else looking at that task at the same time will actually see updates as you type. You can easily move tasks into different projects by dragging and dropping. There is no lag time between opening new projects and tasks. Everything seems to load instantaneously.
• Intuitive: Asana doesn't have a steep learning curve. The default view is list-based. Your team will have no problem learning how to add new tasks, use the WYSIWYG editor, or assign tasks. Use familiar commands like "@" to tag a follower on a task.
• Keyboard shortcuts: The keyboard shortcuts are incredibly helpful. Simply press enter to enter a new task, tab+backspace to delete, use familiar copy/paste and undo commands, and much more. PMs with a lot to juggle will appreciate the shortcuts.
• My Tasks: The "my tasks" view provides a single, centralized location for you to see everything on your plate. Use section headings and drag and drop tasks to re-order. I use this to prioritize my week. It helps me focus on what's really important.
• Searchability: The search in Asana is intuitive. Our task backlog dates back three years, and I can still almost always find what I'm looking for via a simple keyword search. Projects are archived, not deleted, so I always feel like my historical information is safe.
• Flexibility: Projects can be set up as a waterfall/list view or as kanban. This product should work well for teams with different styles.
• Integrations: Asana integrates with everything. There's a great Slack integration, but my favorite is the Instagantt integration. Using Instagantt in tandem with asana is a super easy way to create attractive digital project calendars.

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• MindManager allows me to plead my case for more resources, show when there is scope creep, illustrate how complex a topic is, or to present high-level documentation that can be expanded to give the most granular steps/details.
• MindManager can be leveraged to take the detailed notes of an analyst inside the basic visual overview that upper management cares about.
• MindManager can export all the diagrams you build into HTML maps that will contain all the documents, images, graphics, and structure created in the tool. This eliminates the requirement of a proprietary tool needed by the recipient of the mind map to see your exports. Anyone can see the maps in the same way you built them.
• MindManager is excellent in purveying complex scenarios in easy to understand diagrams.

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• It's not that easy to change or update the name of the title. You need to click the arrow down button beside the title to edit. I believe it should be easier like just click on the current title and change it.
• I would like Asana to put a feature like Facebook and LinkedIn where you know who's online and who's not online. Because if the person-in-charge is online you can communicate with him real time rather than waiting for him to respond later on.
• I would be glad too if they add a voice call or video call feature so that if you have concerns and the person you would like to talk to is online you can speak with him right away. Some comments or revisions just needs to be explained through a call to eliminate misunderstandings.

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• Dashboard Wizard - There is a bit of a skill set required and knowledge of conditional formatting. A wizard would help you set this up with examples and guided questions to get the content you want on the map.
• New sheet from a topic - XMIND has the ability to have a topic open in another tab as a central topic. All the maps in XMIND are within the same file, no linking to external maps. MindManager allows you to import a map as a topic but with it you need to either import the content from the map which will be forced to take on the attributes of the parent map, or just link to the other map. Multi Tab maps in MM would be awesome. It is one of my most used features in XMIND and keeps everything in one place.
• Re-Ordering of topics in a flowchart for presentation in HTML5/PowerPoint/Word export - One item, in particular, that would put this product over the top is being able to re-order the topics in a process flow so it can be used more effectively in a presentation. Process flows are constantly changing when you get new information. If you edit the map by adding or putting a topic in between two earlier topics the presentation mode will not focus on that topic until the end of the presentation. If you put a topic at the end of the flow the presentation will jump ahead and then go back. It would be nice to omit parts of the flowchart from the presentation as well. Additional export types for the output of a flowchart would also be handy. The export to HTML5 is excellent, and so long as you manually click from topic to topic it is functional and impressive. But it is lacking the fine-tuned polish and sub-features that would really put it over the top and make it useful for distribution to people other than those intimately familiar with the material.
• More documentation on how to create Macros.
• Outlook HTML formatting support without a plugin. The reformatting of email in MM can make things more confusing.
• Record or attach audio to a topic. – Sometimes training or narration need to be a part of a map. Many tools implement this natively nowadays.
• Play video from within a topic or in an integrated window. – Video is also commonly used now to eliminate the need for documentation. It would be nice to watch and add notes or just include in a map.
• SnagIt Support – I thought I remembered this in earlier versions. I cannot seem to create a link between MM and SnagIt anymore.
• Start with a truly blank map (a sandbox) and be able to place any type of topic on the screen and build anything. Xmind Zen is essentially doing this now.
• Filter using images/icons.
• Create image/tag/color legend on map. When legend item is clicked focus on the topics that have the Legend item properties. Would be great in HTML5 output.
• Un-filter a filtered HTML5 export using a toggle on the HTML Map. When sending out a couple example maps to people unfamiliar with the usage they did not know that there was more content available and made assumptions based on only what they saw. An alert notifying the map is filtered would be nice on the output.
• Flowchart to Visio Export
• Exporting to Word/PowerPoint - If you could bring the same level of control to these exports that you did to your HTML5 exporter you would have all the bases covered. Unless I define my own word template the output from a map to work has a messy feel. I really like to do business analysis with maps. I bring in map parts when defining evidence types, scope statements, and requirements. I drag the map parts to the map and define all the info my branches ask for when I include evidence. I would love to be able to export my maps to Microsoft Word and have a great output for my Issue Analysis, Requirement Documents, Traceability Matrix, etc. While I have found ways to make this work and quicker for me I have talked to others that would like to see things perfectly laid out on export that do not have the time to do the tricks and tweaks I have become used to over the years with word templates. It would be nice to have strong export support for Word and PowerPoint documents. Something more visual perhaps that lets a user preview how their export will look before they execute it.

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• I'm not sure how this impacts our ROI. We are able to manage our workload better and see the workload we have.

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• In visualizing goals, it gives a pictorial reminder of where we are and where we are going.
• In laying our ministry process schematics, it becomes much easier to follow the process, flow, and follow-through.

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