In 2006, I published a landmark survey of mind mapping software users. Never before had anyone quantified how it was being used, or how much of a productivity increase was possible from utilizing this amazing type of productivity software.
This survey, conducted nearly four years later, was an opportunity to take a fresh snapshot of what you’re using, how you’re using it and the benefits it provides.
Topics covered in this valuable report include:
- The primary mind mapping program respondents use in their work
- The productivity increase that mind mapping software has enabled in their work
- The application for which respondents are using mind mapping software
- The biggest benefits they have experienced from it
- The factors that are holding mind mapping software back from being more widely adopted in business
- Data on how respondents share mind maps with their coworkers
For many of the survey questions, I benchmarked the results of the 2006 survey against this year’s responses, so you can see how the use of mind mapping software has evolved during the last four years.
Click here to access the survey results.
If you found this article to be of value, why not subscribe to the weekly Mind Mapping Software Update e-newsletter (using the form on the top right of this page). It’s free, and will help you to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the world of visual mapping tools.
Logging you in...
Loading IntenseDebate Comments...
Andrew Wilcox · 783 weeks ago
Thank you for gathering, processing and publishing this information.
My feelings after scanning the report are that the strengths at the moment are in project and knowledge management, predominantly by individuals.
A few technology and application changes are in motion which could change the result in four years time.
1. Hand held mind mapping on devices such as the iPhone, Blackberry etc. and iPad, Netbook and Tablet PCs. These will enable students to use mind mapping to acquire and manage their knowledge. Will they give it up when they move on to their working lives? Is this the key to going from side stream to main stream?
2. Collaborative mapping using Mindjet's products and other web based applications is growing. Will this create a recognised working platform for corporates, organisations and SMEs?
3. Will iMindMap enable users to produce memorable maps by replicating Tony Buzan's original process?
Whatever happens we know that once you have given it a good go and regularly use mind mapping software its positively addictive.
Comment et pourquoi les entreprises utilisent-elles les logiciels de Mind Mapping ? « Trouve ta voie !
Glen Hoffherr · 783 weeks ago
Thanks for sharing this information. I found it very interesting in your comments on "what format do you share your results" in that you say that very few people in an organization have the software - which I believe is the single most important reason for lack of MM usage (although I learned to MM before there was software and still prefer that method when I am using it by myself or in a small group for developing/expanding ideas) - the software available typically (yes I know there is software at all price points) costs WAY too much to have it become accepted by entire organizations - which leaves it to Evangelists within organizations (which is why so many PDF publications) - when I worked for a large company every report I did with a MM was easily accepted and people "wanted" the software until they found how much it costs - to be accepted it MUST either become much less expensive or get rolled into an office suite - I think Google could easily become the driving force (and MM ap killer) if they acquired one of the current companies and integrated it into their package.
David Esko · 783 weeks ago
Some of the other findings I found to be a little surprising. The declines in question #3 were among those! On the surface, that does not seem very favorable.
Question #5, it would have interesting to know how many people in their respective companies, use mind mapping software. Are they isolated (one offs) users, or is their company purchasing it for them?
It seems from the survey, that there is, as you call it Chuck... still a great divide!!
Hank · 781 weeks ago
Chuck Frey · 781 weeks ago
knowvis | Visueller denken > klarer denken