Item: MindManager
Rating: 10
Author: Jeff Kearns CD, rmc, PEng, PMP

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

MindManager is really good at the project brainstorming and planning stage. Its visual nature is ideal for creating a work breakdown structure and enabling the team to see the entire project at a glance. I use the org chart map layout to design that.

Compare that to a dedicated project management tool like Microsoft Project. I’ve seen project managers open it up and start entering rows of project tasks into the program’s Excel-like spreadsheet. As a result, team members see the tasks but not the context. That’s lost in the endless rows of project data.

That’s one of the real advantages of MindManager: You can see tasks in the context of the overall project – the forest AND the trees, if you will. Once the tasks are defined, information regarding task duration, resources, and dependencies can be added in MindManager. Finally, the project design can be exported to another tool such as Microsoft Project for finalization of the plan.

Common Applications for MindManager

Strategic Planning
Brainstorming
Process Mapping
Knowledge Management
Problem Solving
Task and Project Management
Project Planning

Pros and Cons

Creating a Work Breakdown Structure. It is easy and fast. Then, using the Gantt Pro tool, one can manage the project and assign resources and dates to work packages.
MindManager's drag and drop functionality offers the possibility of combining multiple projects into one program and can even help you perform resource leveling across multiple projects.
Stakeholder Management. MindManager has many built-in templates but one I like to use if the Stakeholder identification template. It makes identifying, classifying, and managing stakeholders as easy as it gets.
Brainstorming. There is nothing as convenient as a mind map tool for simple brainstorming of ideas. Mindmanager excels at this.
Turning a map into a written document. I used MindManager to brainstorm, plan and compose an entire white paper, complete with graphics. Then, all I had to do was export the document to MS Word. Formatting was all taken care of.

If it had a more comprehensive project management capability that allowed for a complete replacement of MS Project, that would be great.
Better integration with Evernote; my other productivity tool.
Updates to the old cloud-based Mindjet Files feature at vision.mindjet.com that I first purchased in 2012 would be greatly appreciated. If I am using a client's computer without MindManager, I want to be able to access and render newer format files seamlessly. This would involved continued support for Flash Player, but I think it is warranted.

Number of Users

1 to 10

Return on Investment

It has allowed me to deliver results to clients in cases where a lesser tool would have failed.
Managing a Lean Six Sigma project and storing all project artifacts within the mind map has been extremely useful in my work.
I have saved time by using the mind map of my deliverables as the central feature of project reports to cleint.

Information Visualization Benefits

I use MindManager to visualize my client base. I take advantage of its many features to identify opportunities with existing clients and track completed work.

In addition to its many work-related features, MindManager has been a great tool for vacation planning and other personal projects.

One type of project I do is manage complex proposals. MindManager allows me to have all proposal documentation available within the single mind map and execute the proposal project, along with the structure of the proposal itself, with its visual Gantt chart.

Alternatives Considered

I have dabbled with some other mind mapping tools over the years, but since I started using MindManager in 2005, I have had no compelling reason to switch products.

Likelihood to Recommend