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707 Effective OSH Committee Meetings
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Mind Mapping - Another Tool to Identify Problems

Mind Mapping is simply drawing boxes and lines to help you quickly think about and categorize ideas, problems, concepts, subjects, and just about anything else.

Mind mapping is another great tool to help identify problems.

Mind mapping is successful because it takes advantage of the brain's natural ability to categorize ideas in a rapid, but unorganized manner.

Look at the mind map to the right. At the center we write the problem. Then, try to think of the factors that are more obvious causes for the problem. (This works best by letting your subconscious do the work while you watch TV or work on another project.) Next, take a look at each factor listed and ask why that particular cause exists. After spending some time building a diagram, you will end up with one structured similar to the example shown here, but the content will be different.

Using this technique, you will be able to take any topic, project, or problem and quickly determine related categories, processes, procedures, etc. Once the mind map is complete, it is merely a matter of reorganizing the information into the more common outline format.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

6-5. Which technique is successful because it takes advantage of the brain's natural ability to categorize ideas in a rapid, but unorganized manner?