Generates a Mental Model Diagram (based on Indi Young's Mental Models technique)
Requires a CSV that has the following headers:
- "Mental Space" - The mental space (refer to Mental Models)
- "Task tower" - The task tower (refer to Mental Models)
- "Atomic task" - The atomic task (refer to Mental Models)
- "TID" - A unique ID for each task
- "CleanType" - Role with no asterisks or special charators. In this data, it is "QE, PM, RCM etc". Used for color coding. Note: If you use different types, you'll need to change the CSS to reference the types that you use
The CSV should be organized by Mental Space first, Task Tower second. (An easy way to do this is to sort your spreadsheet from A-Z on the task tower first, and then A-Z on the Mental spaces)
(If mental space or task tower is undefined, it will be put into a general bucket of empty items.)
Below is a google sheet you can copy that is already configured with correct headers. You can add more columns/headers, but if you delete/edit the existing ones you run the risk of this not working!
Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E7wbZL9lz05eHDmCkxT9f9ucIg5O-inJxFKK8wkqO-o/edit?usp=sharing
CSV output of that sample data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQFPTjOD4FoGfQpwBtp5eka2LA-5eVCx6Eo4WKc4NMAqzlBlv1JLCUqOhrKNU9LzHU32cxbtXKFaUOc/pub?output=csv
- Clone/download the files
- Configure MAMP (https://www.mamp.info/en/) or your local server of choice to point at the folder where you just put these files (make sure PHP is on)
- Open your local host - There will be a generated mental model displaying the data in the "data.csv" file
- Open the "index.php" file in a text editor (e.x. https://atom.io/ ) and switch which of the csv reading files is commented out. Now, the csv is reading from an external link.
- Change the link to point at your CSV, OR overwrite the "data.csv" file with your own
Indi Young wrote a book about this UX research technique. This script generates a spreadsheet mental model into HTML.
Interview with Young: https://indiyoung.com/why-are-mental-models-important/
Buy the book: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/mental-models/
Buy the book (amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Models-Aligning-Strategy-Behavior/dp/1933820063
Requires PHP. Built with v7.2.10 & I haven't tested with any other version.
You'll need somewhere to host this. I use OpenShift Online (https://www.openshift.com/products/online/) but you could use any other platform.