Mind mapping is a technique applied to brainstorming and other group discussion methods (for example where people are discussing the relationships between large numbers of factors). It allows a group’s ideas to be charted in logical groupings fairly quickly, even when ideas are given in a non-sequential manner. This technique allows efficient brainstorming for ideas and at the same time creates a skeletal framework for later categorisation of the information generated. Mind mapping can be used in planning, identifying customer groups.
Mind mapping works well when issues have many components and sub-components. This technique is a non-linear way of outlining information. It is possible to implement it with ‘pen and paper’, but dedicated software tools are also available for the visualisation in real time of the developments of the brainstorming.