Mind Maps - For Communication or Organization?

I started a conversation over on the SmartDraw forums yesterday about this topic: are mind maps primarily an organization tool or a communication tool?

I use mind maps constantly; basically whenever I need to organize my thoughts, I use a mind map. I use them almost exclusively as an organizational tool.

Have you ever tried using a mind map in a PowerPoint presentation? I've tried to include them before in some of my strategic meetings here at SmartDraw and they just seem incredibly awkward for presenting in front of a group of people.

For instance, how do you sequence a mind map using PowerPoint's animation engine? How do you order the elements? My inability to effectively weave a mind map into a PowerPoint presentation is what ultimately prompted me to ask this question.

So I'd like to pose this question to all of the Working Smarter readers out there: do you use mind maps primarily for communication or organization? How?

Here are my arguments for either:

How Mind Maps are Used for Organization

• Used to direct the flow of brainstorming
• Used for fleshing out ideas
• Used to plan tasks for projects
• Used to determine content for presentations, websites, etc...
• Used to connect ideas

All of these uses are derivatives of mind maps' primary organizational function, which is to add a degree of direction to the brainstorming process.

How Mind Maps are Used for Communication

First a quick definition per the Encyclopedia of Business Graphic's entry for mind maps:

"Mind maps are also good when collaborating on projects with team members because they lend coherence to ideas that might seem otherwise unrelated."

Using mind maps for presentation might not be the best use given that they seemingly lend themselves to collaboration, which is much more interactive and hands on.

Regardless, what do you think?

Edit: Quick FYI, you can now follow Working Smarter on Twitter or check out our photos on Flickr. Enjoy!