Using MindManager 8 for Task Planning
MindManager 8 has a new function for calculating the dates in a task map. You can add topics representing the tasks with their durations. Then link them with relationships to show the order of the tasks. Finally add a start or a finish date. MindManager will calculate the latest start or the earliest finish and the dates for all the tasks.
This map shows a plan for redecorating a boardroom. One of those with plush carpets, paintings on the walls and a large table which you wonder how it ever got in there. No mini bar these days.
The project is partially completed. The tasks in pink are late and the Empty the Room summary task is in yellow because it is at risk of not completing on time.
Resources i.e task owners can be added as well but I have left them out to make the map less cluttered.
If you want to see this as a timeline you will need to use one of the following:
If you want to do what ifs on your plan, I suggest you save a copy of the plan with tasks, durations and relationships before you add any dates. After you add a date MindManager calculates and fixes all the dates. If you increase a task duration, the finish date extends but if you reduce a duration or parallel some tasks, the finish date is not brought forward.
My conclusions about this tool are that it will be useful for simple projects, the one shown is probably at the limit. After that any changes which shorten the plan will not be recalculated and the value of this functionality is negated. Of course many projects add tasks and the tasks take longer.
This map shows a plan for redecorating a boardroom. One of those with plush carpets, paintings on the walls and a large table which you wonder how it ever got in there. No mini bar these days.The project is partially completed. The tasks in pink are late and the Empty the Room summary task is in yellow because it is at risk of not completing on time.
Resources i.e task owners can be added as well but I have left them out to make the map less cluttered.
If you want to see this as a timeline you will need to use one of the following:
- MindManager Add In JCVGantt Pro 3
- Export it to MS Project
- Export to MPX and import to any project planning tool
- Finally the Sync with Microsoft Outlook tool and use the Task Timeline view in Outlook.
If you want to do what ifs on your plan, I suggest you save a copy of the plan with tasks, durations and relationships before you add any dates. After you add a date MindManager calculates and fixes all the dates. If you increase a task duration, the finish date extends but if you reduce a duration or parallel some tasks, the finish date is not brought forward.
My conclusions about this tool are that it will be useful for simple projects, the one shown is probably at the limit. After that any changes which shorten the plan will not be recalculated and the value of this functionality is negated. Of course many projects add tasks and the tasks take longer.
Labels: mindmanager, Planning, project management
posted by Andrew Wilcox @ 18:00
4 Comments:
At 18 November 2008 at 18:12 ,
Marcorama said...
Hi, like your articles on how to use MindManager. I'm currently trying to use MindManager to handle my daily task an prioritize them. The problem I'm facing now is that I have to copy the "not done" tasks to a new day (new Mind Map).
Any thoughts how to do this more effective?
I'm thinking of using a topic mind map with a filter for not completed.
Do you have any ideas if this could work?
At 18 November 2008 at 18:39 ,
Andrew Wilcox said...
Hi Marco.
Thank you for the feedback.
Your could collect the unfinished tasks on a topic and then right click > send to new map. This will create a trail of connected maps. The hyperlinks between the maps will let you use the Multimap view to see them all and print a week of maps for instance.
You could filter and save as > copy of filtered map.
I think you will find that Results Manager a great add in to MindManager has this functionality built in.
http://www.gyronix.com/
At 15 December 2008 at 10:30 ,
Crystal N Woods said...
Quick question: now that task management is built in to MM8 (I'm trialling it, still have 6 pro installed), do I still need to look at results manager as well? I found a lot of posts indicating conflicts and having to disable the new functions to make RM work, so I would appreciate knowing what functions I would/wouldn't get without Results Manager. Thanks :)
Crystal
http://www.crystalsquest.com
At 15 December 2008 at 11:01 ,
Andrew Wilcox said...
Hi Crystal
The new task roll up function is not a replacement for Results Manager. This is a sophisticated add in. For instance one of it's functions is to aggregate data from (all or your selected) maps with task information. The task roll up function just looks at the current map.
The structure of a map which works with the Task Roll Up calculator may not work with the structure required for Results Manager.
The Task Roll Up function provides a little bit of the functionality you get with JVCGantt and the other project management add ins. These produce timelines, display the critical path, show how resources (people) are loaded and can calculate costs.
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