Forum Posts Feed
Mapping System with Attributes
< Next Topic | Back to topic list | Previous Topic >
Posted by Matt Harwood
Jun 16, 2021 at 02:52 PM
Hi all,
This isn’t necessarily an outliner request - though maybe it is! - but I thought this the most knowledgeable place to ask for this.
Our business now has more employees, more processes and more plates spinning than we saw coming. I’m struggling to adapt from being in a position where I could keep track and visualise those plates spinning in my mind, to one where there is no way I could possibly know everything that happens in our business processes.
I’m looking for a solution to visually be able to map every part of our business, the processes, the data sources, the job roles and people, and including data that links them together. For example, a process for a sales person to make a sale depends on certain data being available, which depends on someone else adding and validating that data. If that data changes, we need a way to know what the knock-on effects might be in other parts of the business.
I was thinking of mind maps, but I don’t know of a solution that would allow custom data attributes on nodes to be able to reference other nodes (i.e. “Depends On”, “Data Source”). A standard database with the option to link entries would work, but would lack a visual, “birds eye view” aspect, unless I built something custom.
Does anyone have any ideas of avenues to look down please? I should probably add that this is something I’m doing myself, and will share with my colleagues after - I don’t have a four figure budget, just my own pocket! ;)
Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions,
Matt
Posted by Lucas
Jun 16, 2021 at 03:49 PM
Interesting question. You didn’t mention if you need to be on a particular operating system, but I think Tinderbox for Mac would be well-suited to a job like that. Just bear in mind that a sizable time investment would probably be required to learn the software (if you haven’t already) and to set up the dynamic business map.
Posted by Cyganet
Jun 16, 2021 at 04:28 PM
Perhaps Freeplane can help. It’s free, so no barrier to try it out. You can add attributes to nodes, and put hyperlinks inside attributes to link nodes together. You can also clone nodes, so an edit in one place is replicated everywhere. I use that when I want to organise the same information in different ways, e.g. by topic or by source.
I’m not sure if the mindmap layout will cover all your needs, since it’s a branching tree, not a flow diagram. But it’s more visual than a database table or a list.
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Jun 16, 2021 at 04:39 PM
Hi,
If I understand correctly, what you want to develop is a model of your company, including quantitative data flows between people / teams / departments.
I see several different routes of varying complexity and functionality that you can take:
- A set of spreadsheets, each of which represents a business entity being fed from / feeding to others; a summary sheet would provide the bird’s eye view.
- A dedicated business modelling software solution, from dynamic Business Model Canvas to much more detailed tools.
- An agile approach, such as Kanban, to visualise and manage the business processes and flows in a pragmatic manner
- An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform bringing together all day-to-day work (this could take ages to set up and in the meantime your company may have changed!)
Does any of the above sound as what you want?
There are mind mapping tools that include calculated fields, but I would advise against them in the context of a business, as in my view they don’t scale well and are not great for collaboration.
Cheers,
Alexander
Matt Harwood wrote:
>I’m looking for a solution to visually be able to map every part of our
>business, the processes, the data sources, the job roles and people, and
>including data that links them together. For example, a process for a
>sales person to make a sale depends on certain data being available,
>which depends on someone else adding and validating that data. If that
>data changes, we need a way to know what the knock-on effects might be
>in other parts of the business.
Posted by Amontillado
Jun 16, 2021 at 08:33 PM
I got interested in Flying Logic and theory of constraints, which sounds like might be applicable to what you’re talking about.
Back then I didn’t have cash woes and bought a copy of Flying Logic. It’s still on my Mac and I sometimes use it for brainstorming.
Where a Mind Map is a categorization and relationship tool, Flying Logic is more about dependencies and process or decision flow.
It’s interesting. I remain intrigued. I don’t have enough use for Flying Logic to justify having it, but the idea of taking a structured look at a system of processes is interesting. ‘Course, that may reveal the modest level of excitement in my life.