AAA, the AutoClub of Southern California is a 12 million member network spanning several states and is the largest AAA network. I work for ClubLabs, the digital innovation hub, supporting 8 different lines of business. These including multiple types of insurance, the worlds largest travel agency, Membership Services, automotive services, financial services and a wide variety of discounts and rewards. My role is UX Lead for UX Research, Analytics and Strategy. My team uses MindManager to create Customer Journey Maps, User Flows, UX Research Audits, Research Plans, and Analyzing the results of User Research, as well as more traditional content maps and IA site maps. The goal is to integrate Adobe Analytics, Quantum Metrics and Medallia Site Surveys to gain a deep understanding of the User’s Experience and precisely identify any user pain points, Inform UX Design, optimize user satisfaction, and achieve business goals - which are different for each line of business we support with the website and native mobile apps, but relate to increased conversion, engagement, up- and cross-selling, impacting KPIs and increasing ROI. MindManager enables us to better map the user experience and content and look at the relationships.
Pros
Mapping content, user flows and customer journeys.
It enables us to rapidly reconfigure maps in MindManager to inform new information architectures, navigational systems, and content strategies.
Connect User Research and analytics precisely to screens.
Dissect flows and screens into their component parts and research them.
Cons
Import and visualize data and analytics into a map format.
Import and attach user research notes and analysis into a map format.
Have more connectors with our other tools, like Jira, Confluence, Adobe A/B testing, etc.
Likelihood to Recommend
Well-suited: Optimizing existing global navigation for a website and native mobile app, planning and testing content strategies, and mapping existing user experiences. Less appropriate: Integrating related documents and data, including screen grabs of big websites.
I've been using MindManager for more than 20 years. Most of the time I used MM to draw mind maps during meetings and to this day, I can almost remember any discussion I had in that meeting with other participants. Even highly complex meetings I can capture with ease and if I have to write meeting minutes, it is easy to do even after days passed. This tool is that powerful. Occasionally I use it for other things too but that is not why I bought the product so many years ago.
Pros
Mind Maps.
Easy organize thoughts.
Summary of meetings.
Cons
I would love to use it on my iPad too.
Likelihood to Recommend
This is my go-to tool for sorting discussions via Mind Maps. The visible way of organizing discussions is just the best. I could not do it without a tool like this. Even if I read a book and I want to summarize it, I use a Mind Map and stick it in the book. Online presentations where I need to get the gist of it noted down I do with Mind Maps. I love it!
We have used MindManager within our department to produce process flowcharts, process planning, project management, and notetaking. We found that it boosts productivity by allowing everyone involved in a project to collaborate as it has tight integration with MS Office and other business tools such as Microsoft Teams. It takes less effort to use compared to other tools and it was a great tool that we used to collectively gain visualization of our projects and processes.
Pros
Great to segment things out (projects, organizational charts, processes, workloads, etc) and gives you a full picture of the job.
It is user friendly, simple to use, and powerful.
MS Office and Teams integration is great. Allows for easy collaboration.
Great GUI and visuals
Excellent method for project planning and brainstorming
Cons
It can be difficult to print your mind map in a font that is large enough to easily read.
Certain features for first-time users are a bit daunting and there is a slight learning curve.
The help options can be enhanced.
Likelihood to Recommend
I like how user-friendly MindManager is for someone who has learned how to use the program. I've tried many mind mapping tools, both online and offline and I find MindManager does it right the first time without any issues. It is also visually perfect, very intuitive, and offers all features you might need. MindManager produces really sharp and professional maps that can be used on screen shares and presentations without any hesitation. It is suited well for organizing personal projects and tasks. I use it to manage most of my personal information when not doing departmental projects and tasks.
VU
Verified User
Manager in Information Technology (Non-profit Organization Management company, 51-200 employees)
We are currently using MindManager to organize and maintain records on our efforts to select partner organizations. Maps are shared online for team members' use (read-only at this time).
We conduct ongoing search efforts to identify candidate organizations to partner with on our annual blitz builds. We have been operating for over 20 years and have built more than 75 homes in total. As Site Selection Director, I use MindManager to keep track of potential partner organizations and progress through our evaluation and vetting processes. I am able to share the maps with my team, which contain links to files they can update regarding contacts, information gained, and status.
Pros
Easy to manage and use links to pertinent files (Google Drive worksheets, Gantt Charts, Process & Procedure Documentation, Contact Logs, etc.)
Visual clarity of viable candidate status
Simple filtering based on a variety of inputs (Team Member, Partner Status, Check List Items completed, etc.)
Cons
Not experiencing any shortcomings at this time
I would like to set up a shortcut to invoke a power filter and/or a macro--not sure how
Likelihood to Recommend
I find MindManager to be very versatile.
VU
Verified User
Project Manager in Research & Development (Non-profit Organization Management company, 11-50 employees)
I use it for outlining problems; I put all my talk outlines on MindManager. When we brainstorm as a team, I always take notes with it. And for challenging decisions, a mindmap is my go-to tool. Finally, when we come up with a structure of a project, the tree/mindmap is a perfect way to map it.
Pros
For big projects, making sure we see all the ramifications of the timeline.
When we break down a paper/book, this allows us to outline all the chapters and sub-sections.
This is a better way to get a talk outline for a 50 min talk onto one page.
Cons
The integration with Powerpoint is still a bit clunky.
The maps work great - the other diagrams I find much less intuitive.
A bit more graphic flexibility with maps would be nice
Likelihood to Recommend
I love the various levels of mindmaps, which allows you to stay general or go very granular. So I outline most complex things on a mindmap. For things that are two-dimensional, such as timelines, I don't find it so useful.
We are using MindManager for our project teams that work on new business initiatives and development to conceptualize their ideas, present to senior executives, and track project progress.
Pros
Familiar user interface made with Microsoft style sheets
Native support for cloud and local storage options
Provides pre-built templates to help users get started
Easily accessible help resources
Cons
No support for team-based project files. Multiple people can only edit simultaneously during pre-scheduled meetings.
A project file can be opened by 2 users at the same time, but when they try to save, a conflict is generated and the project file is duplicated with unmergeable changes.
Published projects should have some kind of queue on save to ask the owner if they want to also update their changes on the published version.
Likelihood to Recommend
MindManager is a well developed, excellent tool for individuals that want to visually conceptualize a project, track tasks, and monitor project progress. I have found that MindManager offers more features and more design flexibility than most of the other cloud-based options that I evaluated.
The software is not well suited to environments where there are project teams that work independently and need the ability for multiple people to update the project file. Collaboration on the same file is only possible through a paid add-on feature, and even then these sessions must be scheduled. Team members cannot work at their own pace from 1 central MindManager project file.
MindManager is used by me alone in my organization. It solves two important problems: it is the best software I have found that helps with the drafting of sermons. This is because MindManager allows me to get ideas "out" and "on paper" and then to rearrange them in the best and most logical sequence. It is far superior to using a word processor. The second problem that MindManager addresses is "brain storming" in board meetings. I use it to gather ideas from the group and organize them.
Pros
MindManager allows me to see the big picture while not losing the details.
MindManager is a great brain storming tool, allowing participation by a group in strategic planning.
MindManager is a great outlining tool, for writing articles and sermons.
Cons
MindManager could have a more robust and easier to use tablet app
Likelihood to Recommend
The ideal usage for MindManager is in board and strategic meetings. I do not believe MindManager works as well in the context of administration.
