Abstract

Idea Mapping is a skill needed by today’s managers and leaders. In fact, Idea Mapping and Mind Mapping are part of the training regularly given at Infosys, Wipro, Boeing, and other global organizations. Two experiments were conducted during the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters in a Principles of Management course. The first hypothesis was that Idea Mapping could be taught successfully to undergraduate students taking a business course. The second hypothesis was that Idea Mapping could be taught in only two to three class periods. Different formats were used in the fall and spring semester to test the two hypotheses. The results demonstrated clear support for both hypotheses. The implications for business school educators is that critical managerial and leadership skills should be integrated into the curriculum. These skills provide a competitive edge to students who will enter a global workforce.