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looking for inverted outlining tool for goal-orientated planning
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Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 23, 2016 at 02:17 PM
I’m not sure if ‘inverted’ is the right term… I would like an online (cross-platform) outlining or mind mapping tool that makes it possible to develop a hierarchical structure that flows from right to left (i.e. opposite of how outliners normally work), in order to construct a system that in turn flows from the many (tasks) on the left to the one (goal) on the right.
Purpose? I’d like to use it for planning and monitoring big picture life goal planning or as a top view of a few large scale projects. This means that instead of what is normally the starting node in an outline or mind map on the left that then gets developed into a hierarchy growing downwards and towards the right, this one would work the opposite way, allowing to grow downwards and towards the left, so that it’s a kind of a reverse fishbone diagramme.
This would allow one to outline and evaluate actions that lead to the accomplishing of the single “goal” node, which would be the rightmost node. The problem I’m trying to solve is that I want to get better at eliminating tasks and projects that do not directly support the accomplishment of the “overall goal” and act as a drain on resources. So it would be a streamlining tool and a focusing tool on the bigger goal(s).
I should be able to access and bookmark this (and automatically open as a pinned tab) in a browser across platforms, possibly also in iOS and Android. If the latter is not possible, then a standalone app (that might also work offline) would be great.
So far I thought of MindMup that might be good for this. It looks like it’s possible to just keep adding parent and child notes on the left, and it pushes the starting “Goal” node to the right. I like the fact that they integrate with Google Drive, as my cross-platform browser is Chrome and I use a couple of Chromebooks as well.
Any other suggestions?
If there is a killer local Windows software for this, I might be willing to compromise on the cross-platform issue and only use it on my Windows laptop.
Posted by jaslar
Apr 23, 2016 at 04:55 PM
Interesting. My only other suggestion is Freemind/Freeplane, which allows for an insert next on the left, and trends to be more parsimonious of screen real estate. But I’m curious to see what else pops up here.
Posted by Paul Korm
Apr 23, 2016 at 06:38 PM
Goalscape is interesting. It’s not a right/left orientation, but concentric circles. I think the standard use case is to work outward from a main goal, but it can be used to work inward too. Just leave the central goals blank until the “subgoals” get fleshed out. It’s web based. Easy to navigate. Drag segments from one subgoal to another. Exportable to PDF, .docx, .xlsx, .csv and other formats.
But I think the best fit for your described requirements is TheBrain. Any node (“thought”) can gain multiple children, sibling, parents so you can expand inward or outward at will.
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Apr 23, 2016 at 08:00 PM
Several years ago I had read an article talking about such a sort of ‘left-to-right funnel’ diagram, arguing that it makes better sense for project management than a classic mind map where items go to all directions. I found that not all commercial mind mapping applications offer such a format; indeed, I just tried MindManager (14) and it doesn’t, whereas ConceptDraw Mindmap does; I think also MindGenius which is about to launch an online version too.
The popular online mind mapping service Mind Meister https://www.mindmeister.com provides it. I suggest that you give it a try (click on Test Drive; you don’t even need to sign up).
Posted by mnf
Apr 24, 2016 at 02:54 PM
Not sure if this one helps But Comapping: https://www.comapping.com/ has left to right flow. Is smooth. Works online and has a desktop version and free demo to try out. Worth a look ... and not too expensive.