A concept map is a tool that allows you to visualize ideas and concepts. It is useful to represent knowledge using circles or boxes that are connected to each other with arrows. Discover how to make one for free in 5 steps and organize your business ideas!
Concept maps have a creative approach and are result oriented. They are often used in business, educational, government and medical areas. But is it worth implementing them? The answer is yes!
These diagrams are useful for projects from the inspiration phase to the documentation and communication of ideas.
In addition, they serve to explain a business opportunity in a strategic, organized and creative way in order to attract new partners, investors or clients.
If you want or an enterprise and you don’t know how to put together a concept map, you found the ideal article! Keep reading and learn how this scheme will help you record valuable information about your business.
Let the brainstorming begin!
What is a concept map?
A conceptual map or conceptual chart is a graphic representation in which structured and hierarchical ideas, projects or concepts are shown. It is a tool that helps you synthesize a specific topic for better understanding.
These ideas, concepts or characteristics of a theme are presented through nodes such as circles, boxes or squares that are connected with arrows, lines or icons called cross links.
In a well-prepared conceptual scheme, this distribution or layout fulfills a function: to place the main idea in the highest place, that is, above the secondary ideas.
For example, if you need to present a business idea for an online store, the first data that should appear is the . Then, below that first concept, you will break down the other topics that will help you give direction to your project.
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Differences between a concept map and a mind map
Concept maps and mind maps share similarities, one of them being that they are used to capture ideas. However, it is important to know what their differences are so that you can choose the model that suits your project. We tell you the details!
Concept maps are an excellent tool for brainstorming or . The plus point is that it allows entrepreneurs, businessmen and team members to look at a concept from various angles and analyze whether it is viable or not.
On the other hand, this type of model is characterized by having a multinodal form, that is, it shows the flow that goes from one point to another (labels or connecting arrows) within the same concept (which includes multiple words or ideas). .
In this way, concept maps help you identify the central axis of your project, the resources you will need and the essential actions to develop it.
Mind maps, on the other hand, focus on a single topic or idea. Also, they are hierarchical and follow a branching tree structure, but they are flexible.
Usually, in this type of “spider diagram” there is a central image accompanied by loose secondary ideas that branch out. They are mostly used to explain academic content.
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What is the concept map for?
A concept map can be applied in various disciplines, as we mentioned at the beginning of this article.
It is typically used to organize research, create value propositions, and structure projects. But we want to focus on a specific sector: the .
In business, concept maps serve to encourage visual communication and intuitive thinking. They also help “develop knowledge and assimilate new ideas,” according to their creator Joseph D. Novak, an American professor and theorist.
Another interesting aspect is that it is an effective tool for solving problems within an online business. For example, you can use it in cases related to digital marketing, product design or the branding process.
Benefits of building a concept map for business
Concept maps serve a number of purposes within your business organization. Take note!
- They make it easy to create projects from scratch, like your .
- They establish a unified methodology for each project.
- They detect irregularities, gaps and points of improvement in different areas.
- They encourage the
- They promote understanding of the organization: its current status and where it wants to go.
- They allow to control the and the inventories.
- They improve product development or launches.
- They facilitate the
- They train and instruct new employees.
- They record the knowledge of an organization’s leaders and experts.
- They identify areas that need further insight or review.
- They synthesize ideas and information to better understand them.
- They help collective learning.
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Characteristics of a concept map
The characteristics of concept maps differentiate them from other visual tools in the following ways:
Parking lot
Before starting to record the ideas about your business, make a list to identify the key points that you cannot miss. Remember that this list must be created by categories that go from the general to the specific.
Concepts
By concept it is understood that they are all those patterns, events or objects that are represented with figures, circles or squares in the diagrams.
Link Phrases
Linking phrases are used to describe the relationship between two concepts or ideas. They are located between the lines or arrows that make up the diagram and are specific words: “includes”, “requires”, “contains”, “give meaning to”, “can be”, “are”.
cross links
Cross-links are the arrows, lines, and icons that allow you to visualize how concepts are connected. Its purpose is to encourage creative thinking.
propositional structure
The propositions are a semantic structure that is made up of two or more concepts related to each other, by means of a linking phrase to form a unit with meaning. For example: concept maps “are” concepts linked by connectors.
Hierarchical structure
A concept map is designed to be read from the top down for one important reason: general concepts are at the top. While the more specific concepts are arranged in the lower area.
Types of concept map
Next, we present the types of concept map that will help you to enhance your ideas:
spider model
This type of diagram is characterized by showing a central image (symbolizing the body of the spider) and, from this, the secondary ideas (legs of the spider) are broken down.
Hierarchical model
In this model the information is organized by its importance. Therefore, the multiple levels represent the hierarchy of each concept or idea embodied.
flow model
The conceptual flow map will help you to explain the information of your online business in a linear way. It is a good option to detail the processes of a company or enterprise.
systemic model
The systemic model has a similarity with the conceptual flow map, however, in this table the “inputs” and “outputs” of ideas are handled.
How to make a concept map step by step
Surely you have heard the phrase: “a picture is worth a thousand words”. And it would be a good way to refer to a concept map. However, that image must contain:
- clear and precise information,
- main and supporting ideas
- and defined graphics,
- words or phrases that connect the concepts,
- symbols and figures that facilitate their understanding.
With this in mind, we turn to an important point of this article: how to make a concept map. Shall we start?
How to build an online concept map
1. Choose the right online platform
Today there are platforms that allow you to create a concept map online for free in just a few steps. It is recommended that you choose an option that gives you creative and functional alternatives to make your own format, based on the types of schemes that we analyzed in the previous segment.
đź’ˇ Keep reading and discover 6 platforms specialized in concept maps!
2. Identify the main topic
The theme or main idea has to point to the heart of your project: the creation of your online store, the renewal of a product or service or the , for example.
3. Define the concepts
During brainstorming, keep in mind topics and subtopics, concepts, questions, and other components that are part of your main topic.
Also, use the research or notes you have made on this particular subject to have the relevant information at hand. For example, what would be the .
4. Organize the elements
An excellent alternative is to create categories and subcategories to group the most related topics.
Do not forget to select a suitable size of the boxes or circles, as well as the colors, arrows and link phrases so that all the elements of your concept map are displayed harmoniously.
5. Include connections
Another important step is to include the arrows or lines between each element to see how they are linked. The ideal is to use short words or phrases, but that add value. For example: the SEO analyst “defines” the .
How to make a concept map in Word
If you have this word processor installed, we will teach you how to make a conceptual map in Word, hands on the keyboard!
1. Create the concept map
When entering Word, go to the Menu and look for the “Insert” option. Then, click on “Shapes” to see the different geometric figures that are available.
2. Personalize the information
After choosing the geometric shapes and the type of arrow, you are going to customize the size of each box and the colors. You can even give it a creative touch by adding shadows or borders.
3. Add the text
Once you have the structure ready, you can add the text inside the boxes. For effects, click the right mouse button and select “Add text”. Finish by choosing the size, font and style.
4. Refine the concept map
Once you have your conceptual box ready, take a last look at it: adjust the layout of the boxes, reorganize the hierarchies and analyze if the flow of the concepts is well explained.
đź’ˇ If you have already dared to undertake, we invite you to create your online store with Tiendanube.
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