Concept Mapping Guidelines

Concept Mapping is the visualization of any issue, the illustration or drawing up of an idea, situation, proposal or problem, indeed solution, for the purpose of

  • Gathering information
  • Reaching an understanding,
  • Exploring new possibilities
  • Opening up new opportunities
  • Achieving unanimity within a group or team
  • Taking a snapshot of the here and now
  • Setting priorities or developing focus points
  • Brainstorming
Concept Mapping Picture

“A picture says more than a thousand words”


Who are these Concept Mapping Tools for?


These mapping tools or methods can be used anywhere, at any time by anybody.

It helps to have a blank surface, preferably paper, different coloured pens and the right mindset.

You don’t have to be an artist, once you can draw matchstick men, circles and line, you already halfway there.

Be creative! The aim is not to be perfect.

Your job here is to illustrate information, not produce either a legal document or produce a work of art.

On a group, as known from Brainstorming techniques, blocking and negative attitudes are not allowed.

But, while saying that, please listen to people’s reserves as they might be highlighting something that could lead to a better solution or better result.

Be Creative! Have Fun! And get yourself some NEAT MAPPING SKILLS.



Note: In my more than 25 years of experience, whenever I have taken over the team and produced a concept using one of the following methods, the results are always the same: it is magical to see how even the highest of management respond by quickly gravitating the discussion around the framework of the concept map.

So, if you are taking on a new project and want to get unanimity within your team, check out the other business analysis techniques.


Knowledge Management in Your Analysis


It is important to mention the concepts of Knowledge Management in your analysis process. The information that can be gathered and created during such a process can be invaluable

- as a source of further new ideas

- as a means to improve other processes or similar situations

- as a means to train others into the topic. 

The results of your analysis belongs to the group "Intellectual Property" and should be of value to your work. 

It goes without saying, the more you put in, the more you will get out of carrying out your evaluation or mapping. 


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