Small Pieces, Loosely Joined: Enterprise 2.0 Conf. Case In Point

Sometimes combining basic tools form powerful collaboration mechanisms.

I’ve been surprised that the concept of mind mapping wasn't  discussed as a relevant and powerful mechanism for collaboration at Enterprise 2.0.   I’ve been a user of mind mapping through the use of MindJet’s MindManager product for some years, and have mentioned to various people at MindJet that their desktop application would be extremely powerful if they brought it into the Web 2.0 world. At the Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston last month,  I saw that SnapXT has done just that.

Using MindManager as the user interface, a non-technical, knowledge worker can create web pages and mash-up applications. The MindManager tool allows the simple structuring and visualization of a web page, or a project portal and SnapXT joins,  or snaps the applications and data elements together. 

When I used MindManager in a corporate enterprise workplace a year ago, I found it useful to help a team outline a support process between the company and a partner organization. In other cases, I used it to help a team brainstorm the structure of a proposed online community. While MindManager itself does have many points of integration with other desktop applications, SnapXT enables simple mashups that would integrate with other enterprise business systems.

These type of tools can give knowledge workers greater access to   collaboration and ability to create their own project specific application, almost a "disposable"application, useful for the duration of a project without the immense lead time and cost of more traditional applications development models.

Here, in map format is an outline of the MindJet/SnapXT combination.

 

 

Comments

[Catherine]

Vic,
Thanks very much for the comment on the mind mapping post and the excellent list of Web 2.0 alternatives. I'm eager to give them a view.

FYI, I'm working on the upcoming Office 2.0 Conference (Sept 3-5) in San Francisco, to organize the enterprise thread, and will be putting together and moderating a panel on Mind Mapping and Web 2.0.
I want to focus on practical examples of the tools in action in a real business setting.

I welcome your ideas and will blog about the project as it evolves in the next two months.
Catherine

[Vic]

Hi Catherine,

I've been a Mind Manager user for a long time and I'll certainly be experimenting with SnapXT. For all those enterprises with an investment in Mind Manager licenses and training that looks like a most useful road to go down.

Enterprises without that commitment could well experiment with some of the many web-based mind mapping services that have sprung up over the past few months. Here are some that I know of. All offer collaborative working over the web:

webofweb.net -- mind mapping (the oldest surviving one)
bubble-mind.com
comapping.com -- rigid
bubbl.us -- loose format
kayuda.com -- concept mapping as well as mind mapping
mapul.com -- with an organic style
mind42.com -- mind mapping
mindmeister.com -- mind mapping
mindomo.com -- mind mapping

There are also some generic diagramming web services that support mind mapping amongst other types. Here are some I've come across:

thinkature.com -- Collaborative on-line whiteboard service - can draw mind maps and concept maps
cumulatelabs.com/cumulatedraw/ -- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps
gliffy.com -- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps
flowchart.com -- Collaborative diagramming – can draw mind maps and concept maps

Some of these are in Beta. Most offer a free option, though with the subscription-based services that is usually limited to a few maps.

Regards
Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software