Trends in business problem solving – please share your opinion!

Here's what's on my mind, Chuck.
- Creative skills are needed because of increasing complexities both within and outside the organization. Complexity is higher due to the proliferation of technology, inorganic and organic growth, multiple versions of 'knowledge', difference in priorities, politics, lack of a single purpose, increasing requirements of speed and consistent performance...among other things. Whew!
- Mind maps need to be prepared both at the individual level and organizational level. Will help improve clarity at, both, lower as well as upper levels. Mind maps could be used to communicate, reflect and simplify the dynamics of organizations!

Commenting on the quest for a cancer cure last week,The ECONOMIST noted that in the 19th century it was commonplace to do an experiment simply to see what would happen. Yet because research is now taxpayer funded, the aims are limited to projects "with a pretty clear idea of what the outcome ought to be."
The paradox is that although such efforts do not eliminate revolutionary discoveries, "they risk limiting the chances of making them."
That sums up a challenge shared by modern business: breaking out of what's "expected" and waltzing into the realm of what's 'needed' -- without bowing to conventional restraints.
To that extent, seeing the range of possibilities through mind mapping is an indispensable, if unpredictable, aid to us all.

One comment for last question....

One of advices to problem-solvers is to use so-named "drill-down" diagrams, which in shape are mindmaps. Node themas would be like
- facts (artefacts)
- every conflict side's feelings analyses
- some wider views to concrete conflict situation
- solutions as analysis result (not only accusing needed)
- suggestions to future (for readers learning something useful)

Mindmap is here only as binder "picture". You may freely create such like document without mindmapping, but if you want other people to read your analysis, it is more attractive to bring them closer to your thoughts.

And here is "dark side" too. If your possible "opponents" don't own some good visualizing technique, they usually stay silent. In this case you must understand them by additional collaborative work.

We all know that industry (or business problems) changed from 'doing the same again and again', to 'doing the same in a better way', to 'doing it in a different way (or elsewhere)' and finally to 'doing different things'. In the old days, experience and knowledge was needed, now since globalisation, an open mind is needed. Mind maps help you with this; they drive you literal away from the centre; from what you know towards what you don't know and hope to find (= i.e. different things).

I think the big change has become the complexity and speed of business problems. Expectations rise and you need different forms to capture detail, to prompt thought, to use as an aid to manage this process.

Mind mapping allows for multiple levels of detail to move up and down in your depth of thinking.

Creative problem solving needs a 'safe haven' to put down your emerging thought so you can formulate these, re-arrange them as additional ideas or knowledge comes to mind

* How has the fundamental nature of business problems changed during the last decade?
1. Complexity

2. Information Overload
Internet access

3. no longer lean and mean

4. "not my job"

5. Merger and acquisition mentatility

6. Stock market - public companies forcing Quarter focus

7. What's in it for me.

* Have they increased in complexity? If so, why?
Since there are now so many forces at work and we are almost instantaneously aware, reaction time is very key and a major focus. This makes it very difficult to absorb and make "thinking based" decisions. Real time is now SLOW!
The increase of PC (politically correct) adds to the decision making process. Since most(?) people are concerned about losing their job they are reluctant to offer their true perceptions.

* How can mind mapping software help in problem solving?
In the correct hands, mind mapping can present many more VISUAL options that the "old fashioned" spreadsheet or list format. A visual picture makes it much easier to uncover relationships that simply do not exist in the linear world .

I recently read "A Whole New Mind" by Dan Pink, and I think it speaks volumes to this topic. I highly recommend this book as it relates to these and many other pressing topics.

Instead of summarizing here, I'll provide a couple of quick links...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Whole_New_Mind
http://www.danpink.com/wnm.html

Underlying forces driving the increased focus on "problem solving":
In addition to the good thoughts already expressed, I think that an underlying force is the increased sophistication of management and management development. Years ago, managers went to "leadership training", where problem solving was just one of the topics lumped in with all the others. Now, managers go through a variety of discrete and detailed training topcs, including: Performance Management, Leading Teams, Diversity, Financial Analysis, Organizational Awareness, etc., etc. "Problem Solving" as well as "decision Making" and "creativity" have been broken out as their own specialty and we are taught these things in more granular detail.

So, how can mindmaps be useful:
1. As a brainstorming tool for individuals or teams
2. Since we as managers may be being directed to focus on a narrower purview in more detail, it is all the more important to see the big picture and to put those details in the right context. Mind maps could be a tool that can help accomplish this.
3. A good communication tool

We might want to keep in mind that, while mind maps are a good tool, esp. for some of us more visual thinkers, they are not the only tool in the tool kit. We don't want to be like the carpenter with a hammer who goes around thinking everything is a nail.

Jim