Have you tried getting a large sheet of paper? Big white sheet and a sharpie might also work for you.
It sounds to me like you are trying to do too much on the same page. I do use viso for mapping, but things usually work better if a sketch can be made on a chart pad or a white board first.
Good luck.
wderzko@PATHCOM.COM
04/14/98 01:03 PM
To:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU@Internet
cc: (bcc: Paul Hsi/SRO/KPNC)
Subject: [MG-ED-DV] Mapping Competitive Intelligence Information /technology evolution
Dear colleagues,
I'm looking for a software program to help me visualize the
growth/emergence/ alliance-formation or breakup of a number of startup
firms in a particular software/hardware sector that produces enabling
technology that is important for our client. The dilemma for the client is
that it needs to know early-on in the game who is going to be a dominant
player in given technology sector, so that it can anticipate and provide
compatible platforms.
We would like to provide that anticipatory capability by visually
representing that evolution.
(assumption: number of small unequal players --> one or two dominant
ones over time)
Is anyone using visualization software to track the evolution
of various new technologies or products/services before they hit the
marketplace ? (there are likely to be a large number of variables, and
multiple data points i.e. over 100 plus small niche players etc.)
Traditional concept mapping software is too linear and static and isn't
for that kind of application (linking decision point in an emerging
dynamic system)
I'm looking for suggestions on how one can visually map the landscape of
emerging companies who have various products or services in the
development stage and ready for commercialization 6 months to a year
down the road-the assumption here is that this information is publicly
available or can be anticipated in advance.
Ideally, the software should be able to isolate various decision paths,
forward and
backwards in time i.e.. highlighting assumptions, distant and close
environmental
factors, impacts on other interconnected decisions and down-the-road
consequences. We are also looking at linking this evolution to "wildcards"
in the environment-real or potential, strategic decisions that have to be
made or issues
that need to be addressed and assumptions behind those issues.
As well it should be able to draw a map that optimizes the least number of
interconnections. I can manually map this out but software should
improve the process
I was thinking of using a radar or target metaphor ( with the inner
circle being the commercial /launched to market stage and each concentric
outward ring indicating a time or event period -with appropriate benchmarks
or
milestones, prior to commercialization) or a hidden box metaphor(where
the box grows as it approaches a launch to market stage).
I've noticed that concept mapping software such as Decision Explorer
(formerly COPE) by Banxia <
http://www.banxia.com >does not seem to
have a time dependent feature that would allow you to represent related
corporate decisions or strategic issues along a y-time axis. This would
be an important feature in our "knowledge maps"
Ideas and suggestions for other software are welcome
Walter Derzko
Director Brain Space
(formerly the Idea Lab at
the Design Exchange)
Toronto
(416) 588-1122
wderzko@pathcom.com