How to create effective concept maps (+ examples)
Concept maps are visual tools for organizing and representing knowledge and ideas in a graphical format. They consist of concepts (or nodes) with connected lines to illustrate their relationships and hierarchy. Concept maps help organize information, solve problems, and make decisions. They also facilitate information sharing and collaboration by enabling contributors to convey ideas in an easily understandable format.
This format provides a deeper understanding of complex topics. Concept mapping software can facilitate the visualization of complex topics and enhance collaboration. This guide explores these tools, provides practical concept map examples, and explains how to utilize them to strengthen your decision-making process.
Keep reading to find examples of concept maps you can adapt for your own projects and teams.
What is a concept map?
A concept map is a visual representation that illustrates the relationships between different concepts, ideas, or information. Concept maps typically portray ideas as boxes or circles, known as nodes, and organize them hierarchically with interconnected lines or arrows, known as arcs.
These lines have annotated words and phrases that describe the relationships to help understand how concepts connect. To create concept maps, start by identifying the main idea, then add related subtopics around it, connecting them with lines and descriptive labels to structure and organize information visually.
Concept maps can be vital to any whiteboard strategy for organizing complex ideas during collaborative sessions.
Concept map key features
Before we dive into concept mapping examples, it’s a good idea to learn what these tools consist of.
While concept maps share similarities with other visual tools, they possess distinct features that set them apart. These characteristics contribute to their effectiveness in organizing information and visually representing relationships between ideas. Below are the essential components of a concept map and how they work together. Using a concept map template can simplify creating concept maps by providing ready-made designs and customization options.
Concepts
Concepts are the fundamental thoughts, ideas, or topics within the map. They serve as the building blocks for organizing information. For example, if a concept map represents a business plan, it could include concepts like marketing strategies, financial planning, supply chain management, and other critical components of the business strategy.
Linking words or phrases
Linking words or phrases describe the relationship between connected concepts. They allow the viewer to understand the flow of information and how the nodes interconnect. Examples of linking words or phrases include “is a part of,” “leads to,” “requires,” and “is dependent on.”
Propositional structure
Propositions are statements that combine two or more concepts using linking words. Also known as semantic units or units of meaning, they form the basis for generating new knowledge within a specific domain. Visually depicting interconnected propositions contributes to a greater understanding of the subject matter.
For example, in a business plan, a propositional structure connecting two concepts could look like “marketing strategies increase brand awareness.” This propositional structure facilitates new knowledge creation by visually depicting interconnected propositions.
Hierarchical structure
The hierarchical structure positions the most general and inclusive concepts at the top and arranges more specific concepts underneath. Reading the concept map from top to bottom provides an understanding of concepts from broader categories to more detailed and specific ones. In a business plan example, the overall business strategy would be at the top level, followed by sub-levels such as marketing strategy, finance, and human resources.
Parking lot
The parking lot is an area for unrelated ideas. It's a ranked list, starting with the most general concepts and moving to the most specific. It serves as a holding space for ideas until you can determine their appropriate places in the concept map.
Cross-links
Cross-links represent connections between concepts in distinct areas of the map. They enable the visualization of relationships between ideas from diverse domains. For example, in a concept map for a business plan, you may cross-link market research and financial forecasting (under financial planning), as insights gained from market research can inform your forecasting and budgeting decisions. Cross-links enable creative thinking by allowing individuals to see connections between diverse ideas and engage in creative processes.
Benefits of using concept maps
Concept maps provide clear value in various professional settings. They help organize information, improve decision-making, and enhance team collaboration. The advantages of concept maps include:
Improves understanding and retention
Concept maps help reinforce knowledge by connecting ideas visually. The relationships between concepts create stronger memory pathways than traditional notes. This works well in educational environments and professional settings where teams need to understand complex processes. This type of process mapping in a visual format appeals to different learning styles and makes information easier to recall.
Encourages critical thinking
Mapping concepts reveals gaps in knowledge and assumptions you might miss otherwise. Creating connections between ideas forces you to question relationships and analyze information more deeply. This process helps teams discover new perspectives on familiar problems and identify areas that need more research.
Organizes complex topics
Concept maps break down overwhelming subjects into manageable pieces. They work well for large product development initiatives or complex datasets. The hierarchical structure separates broad themes from specific details, making it easier to focus on one aspect while understanding how everything connects.
Facilitates collaboration
Teams use concept maps to brainstorm and align their thinking. The visual format makes it easy for team members to contribute expertise and see how their work connects to others. This improves communication and supports knowledge sharing across departments. Shared visuals help discussions stay focused and productive.
Types of concept maps
The implementation and arrangement of concept maps can vary. Here are four primary types of concept maps:
- Spider maps: Also known as spider diagrams, these concept maps resemble a spider web. The central concept is in the center, and the related topics branch out. This type is most effective when delving into different aspects of a central idea.
- Flowcharts: A flowchart is a visual depiction of a process or workflow. Its linear structure guides readers through the information step-by-step.
- System maps: Rather than connecting all ideas to a central concept, a system map concentrates on the relationships between ideas without a clearly defined hierarchical structure.
- Hierarchy maps: Hierarchy maps illustrate rank or position. The primary idea or the concept with the highest rank sits at the top, while lower-ranking ideas flow underneath in a structured manner.
Concept map examples by use case
Concept maps work in different situations and objectives, from project collaboration to strategic planning. Let’s look at a few concept map examples:
Business strategy concept map
Businesses might use concept maps for product launches, market analysis, or competitive positioning. A product launch concept map starts with the main product at the center and branches out to market research, customer personas, distribution channels, pricing strategy, and competitive analysis. Marketing teams connect promotional tactics to specific customer segments, and sales teams link outreach methods to distribution channels. This helps everyone understand how their work supports the overall launch strategy.
Project planning concept map
Project teams might use concept maps for website redesigns, software implementations, or office relocations. Website redesign projects use concept maps to break down the initiative into connected phases. The map illustrates how content strategy influences design decisions, impacting development requirements and quality assurance testing. Teams can see dependencies between workstreams and identify potential bottlenecks. This supports effective project planning by making relationships visible to stakeholders.
Goal-setting concept map
Individuals and teams might use concept maps for career development, skill building, or performance improvement. Goal-setting becomes more achievable when you map out supporting elements. A career development concept map shows how skill building, networking activities, professional certifications, and key milestones align with your career objectives. This concept map helps you see which activities have the biggest impact and how different development paths complement each other.
Project collaboration concept map
Teams might use concept maps for cross-team product launches, system integrations, or company-wide initiatives. A cross-team product launch concept map shows how tasks, communication tools, shared documentation, and decision-making processes support the common goal. Teams can see their dependencies on other groups and understand how delays in one area affect the entire project. This promotes effective project collaboration by making complex initiatives more manageable.
Team onboarding concept map
HR teams might use concept maps for new employee onboarding, role transitions, or training programs. New hire onboarding uses concept maps to guide people through essential tools, company policies, role-specific training, and relationship building. The map shows how different onboarding elements build upon each other. New employees understand what they need to learn in their first weeks and months, and managers can ensure nothing gets overlooked during the transition.
Product development concept map
Product teams might use concept maps for new feature rollouts, product roadmaps, or user experience improvements. Product development teams use concept maps to outline the journey from idea generation through feature planning, user feedback collection, and release cycles. The map shows how customer research influences design decisions, guiding development priorities and testing requirements. This helps product managers balance competing priorities and communicate trade-offs to stakeholders.
Project management concept map
Project managers might use concept maps for marketing campaigns, event planning, or process improvements. Marketing campaigns involve multiple parts that concept maps help organize and coordinate. A campaign concept map structures how project scope, timeline, budget, risk factors, and stakeholder roles relate to campaign objectives. Project management teams can use these maps to ensure nothing gets missed or forgotten about and everyone understands their responsibilities.
Sales concept map
Sales teams might use concept maps for B2B sales funnels, customer journey mapping, or lead qualification processes. Sales teams map out their customer journey from initial lead generation through final delivery handoff. The concept map illustrates the connection between lead qualification processes and targeted outreach strategies, which in turn influence proposal development and contract negotiation approaches. This helps sales professionals understand which activities drive results and where to focus their time.
How to make a concept map
Creating a concept map is a straightforward process that allows teams to visualize and organize complex information. Following these steps, you can develop a clear and cohesive map that effectively represents relationships between key ideas.
- Identify the focus question: Define a specific, straightforward focus question or central topic. This will guide the entire concept map and ensure relevance.
- Identify critical concepts: List the essential concepts related to your focus question. You can gather these through research, brainstorming, or prior knowledge. Arrange them in a temporary “parking lot” to prioritize later.
- Structure the map: Begin organizing the concepts into a hierarchical format, placing the broadest, most general ideas at the top. Use linking words to describe relationships between concepts, ensuring clarity and cohesion.
- Refine and connect: Review the map to ensure accuracy. Cross-check for clear relationships between concepts, and use cross-links to connect related concepts across different areas of the map.
- Revise and expand: As new ideas emerge, adjust and expand the map to ensure it stays relevant and comprehensive.
This systematic approach ensures that your concept map remains focused, well-organized, and adaptable. It will help your team make better decisions, identify patterns, and refine their understanding as new insights arise.
Use Confluence whiteboards for concept mapping
Use Confluence whiteboards for collaborative concept mapping. Confluence’s online whiteboards are essential for any collaborative culture, enabling teams to create and work together freely on an infinite canvas. They bring flexibility to projects, supporting teams as they move from idea to execution. When the concept map is finalized, teams can quickly ship it to all relevant stakeholders.
Confluence whiteboards bridge the gap between where teams think and where teams do. Brainstorming with Confluence whiteboards helps teams organize their work visually and turn ideas into reality, all within a single source of truth.
FAQs
What is the difference between mind mapping and concept mapping?
While mind mapping and concept mapping are visual techniques for organizing and representing information, they have fundamental differences. Mind maps organize thoughts for brainstorming and problem-solving, while concept maps organize thoughts to emphasize the connections between ideas.
A mind map tends to be more free-flowing and lacks a hierarchy, while a concept map has a structured layout representing relationships and hierarchy. Prior knowledge is crucial for effectively using mind maps and concept maps to organize and connect ideas.
What is the best tool for concept mapping?
The best concept mapping tool depends on your collaboration requirements and ease of use. To bring your work together in a single source of truth, quickly provide access to all contributors, and turn your ideas into reality, try the concept map maker in Confluence whiteboards.
Can I collaborate on a concept map?
Yes, collaboration is possible on a concept map. A concept map is a productive tool for gathering insights from multiple contributors, especially when using a dedicated platform that supports collaborative editing, such as Confluence whiteboards.