Item: MindManager
Rating: 10
Author: Mark Jacobson

Overall Satisfaction with MindManager

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use MindManager as a planning and strategic development tool to flesh out complex issues into more tangible/executable deliverables. I also use MindManager to condense a significant source of information for my presentations so the audience can easily understand it. This format also shows the relationships between items, enhancing understanding.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The mind map is very clean and clutter free, which aids larger map generation.
Using icons and the ability to filter for them is a very useful way to condense information into the required format.
The ability to place notes and images within each note allows the reader to drill down further if additional information is required.
Exporting to work allows the information generated to be used elsewhere.

Cons

A larger icon library would help.
The relationship connection lines could be 'sent behind' nodes to help with clarity.
Allowing a 'highlighted' path to be developed as the main course through the mind map. This can be thicker connectors, etc.

Return on Investment

Ideas have a method to be explored that make sense to a wider audience.
A lot of information can be distilled and recalled without going over the source.
Larger maps can be formatted with icons so that when filtered, they become relevant to a particular audience.

Common Applications for MindManager

Strategic Planning
Brainstorming
Process Mapping
Knowledge Management
Problem Solving

Number of Users

1 to 10

Information Visualization Benefits

By using MindManager and the mind mapping process, information and, in particular, the relationships between them become clearer. This can then allow further insight to be gained and, hopefully, the development of ideas that were not visible when the mind-mapping process started. When we use this process for strategic development, we map a direction/idea and ask 'what if' for each node. This helps flesh out each node the most.

Alternatives Considered

MindNode

MindNode is an Apple app that got me started in mind mapping. It is very simple and is a good app when used while traveling. However, it does not have many features, and I would not consider it an equivalent app that can produce the same outcomes as MindManager.

Key Insights

Do you think MindManager delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with MindManager's feature set?

Yes

Did MindManager live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of MindManager go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy MindManager again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Bluebeam, Smartsheet, Microsoft Excel

Likelihood to Recommend

Works well with Developing ideas, planning events, fleshing out ideas, developing presentations that can be exported to PowerPoint, and distilling large amounts of information so this can be found and understood in the future much easier (books and lectures are a good application for this). As stated previously, with large amounts of information, the core information can be lost unless time is spent formatting, you should be able to select the core idea and fleshed out information and then right click so it can become predominate within the map.

MindManager Feature Ratings

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How I use MindManager.

Modules Used