I
have always used Mind Maps to analyse and understand
patterns. This all changed when John Loty sent me an
article on concept mapping, a technique
originally developed by software
engineers, to capture knowledge from human
experts, for the purpose of using the
captured knowledge in the software of their expert
computer systems. Concept mapping is now
used by people in all walks of life who
wish to explore concepts and build common
understanding - it enables real dialogue
at the concept level.
So what is
concept mapping? It is a technique whereby
the component parts of a concept, and the
relationships between them, can be
represented diagrammatically.
For example, the basic form of the values
model we use can be mapped as:
Fritz
stresses the importance of identifying our dynamic
urge (A similar concept to what we call
finding your True North):
Our dynamic urge is wired into us. We don't choose to have it, we just have it. We can't get rid of it either, although sometimes we may drive it underground in ourselves. We cannot add to it, take away from it, or fake it.
The dynamic urge is a genuine phenomenon of the human spirit in which people, no matter what the circumstances, continue to want to create something that matters to them.
Fritz goes on to highlight how
organisations, like people, have a form of dynamic urge. This force exists in the
purpose of the organisation. It is found in the hope people have for the organisation. It can't be manufactured by adopting certain behaviours. It cannot be declared into existence. You can't fake it, even if you are a good faker at other things. You can't fake that you have it when you don't have it. When it is thwarted, it doesn't go away; it smoulders as an undercurrent of frustration that builds over time.
When an organisation is filled with people who have strong dynamic urges and it, by itself, has a strong dynamic urge,
then magic happens.
Your
True North/Dynamic Urge can be found through
unfolding meaning and purpose via a comprehensive
values analysis process. It is for this reason Fritz
says:
I am a big believer in people being true to their aspirations and values. I am a big believer in the organization being true to itself as well.
Comprehensive values analysis involves
taking an inventory of your values and
analysing the patterns in the elicited
values - the process is greatly simplified
and increased in efficacy,
through using the elicited values to guide
the creation of a concept map of the beliefs
that give the values their systemic
structure.
****************
Concept
mapping software can downloaded for free
from: http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/
References
Cañas,
A., Hill, G., Carff, R., Suri, N.,
Lott, J., Eskridge, T., Gómez, G., Arroyo,
M., Carvajal, R. "CmapTools: A
Knowledge Modeling and Sharing Environment",
In: Concept Maps: Theory, Methodology,
Technology, Proceedings of the First
International Conference on Concept Mapping,
A.J. Cañas, J.D. Novak, and F.M. González,
Editors. 2004, Universidad Pública de
Navarra: Pamplona, Spain. p. 125-133, http://cmc.ihmc.us/papers/cmc2004-283.pdf
Fritz,
R. 1999, The Path of Least Resistance For
Managers:
Designing Organizations to Succeed,
Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco.
Henderson,
M. 2003, Finding True North: Discover
your values, enrich your life, Harper
Business, Auckland.
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