Success Stories
BikeNZ aligning the power of the mind alongside muscle power and endurance
DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY: 
CaseStudy_BikeNZ (53 KB)
BikeNZ is aligning the power of the mind alongside muscle power and endurance in a quest to double New Zealand’s cycling medal tally at the London Olympics
The organisation is using the technique of mind mapping to hone and refine a three-year High Performance Plan targeted at winning medals at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Mind mapping encompasses visual mapping and free-form thinking, and BikeNZ is using MindManager 8 software from Mindjet Corporation to harness its power. According to High Performance Logistics Manager Bryan Simmonds, the program stimulates brainstorming among project staff and has proved invaluable in co-ordinating the complex project.
“Using MindManager delivers a simpler process, better communication and increased efficiency,” he says. “We have created an easy-to-follow mind map that brings together many related documents and results in fewer emails. We have all benefited from its ease of developing and capturing ideas, analysing them and turning them into a logical plan.”
The program, backed by Mindjet Connect collaboration software, enables the 18-strong High Performance team of coaches and sports scientists scattered around the world to work on the plan simultaneously.
Bryan Simmonds says the team prefer to use MindManager’s visual presentation of ideas and plans rather than text-based information. They looked at conventional project management tools, but found many of these too complicated.
He said: “MindManager’s brainstorming and mind mapping functions simplify the downloading of ideas, turn these into documentation and allow wide-ranging staff to work on various parts of the plan with a visibility into what others are doing, while minimising conflicts. We have used the solution’s ‘export to web page’ function to create a CD of the plan, in the form of a mind map, that includes all attached reference documents.”
MindManager’s project management capabilities enable BikeNZ’s High performance team to capture information on coming projects, manage the information and arrangements as they are made, and make them readily available to all project staff. Each contributor knows where the others are with their allocated tasks, and MindManager makes it easier for everyone to meet deadlines.
“We have raised our efficiency levels and improved the way we do things by using MindManager,” said Bryan. “Now we are more likely to achieve our ultimate objective of securing four Olympics cycling medals for New Zealand at the London Olympics.”
MindManager 8 and Mindjet Connect were supplied to BikeNZ by Auckland-based MindLogik Ltd, Mindjet’s NZ partner, whose business mapping professionals provided dedicated training and ongoing consultancy for the project.
BikeNZ’s High Performance Plan is focused on building a sustainable environment and culture of success, targeted initially at the London Olympics in 2012, then taking NZ competitive cycling beyond that event.
Strategies include a focus on People, Potentiating and Performance - spotting and developing cycling talent, then supporting and strengthening the athletes with input from top level coaches. The complex plan encompasses coaches, sports science, technology, equipment, backing and support. About 50 staff and volunteers are directly involved. Beyond these is a larger pool of development coaches and athletes.
The focus is on endurance events in BMX competition and on the track. Bryan Simmonds says the New Zealanders’ physical characteristics are well suited to endurance events. He is confident that BikeNZ will achieve its goal of winning more cycling medals in the London Olympics.
About BikeNZ
BikeNZ is a non-profit organisation that provides support, structure, development, guidance, governance and money to the sport of cycling. BikeNZ has created a world first by bringing all forms of cycling – everyday (commuting), recreational and competitive – under one organisational structure, driven by a strategic plan uniting the following biking organisations: BMX NZ; Bicycle Industry Association of NZ (BIANZ), representing 167 retailers and 21 wholesalers; Cycling NZ (CNZ); Mountain Bike (MTB) NZ; and NZ Schools Cycling Association. BikeNZ has 4,000 plus licensed riders and all New Zealand cyclists can join BikeNZ via the RideStrong community.
For more information
Bryan Simmonds
BikeNZ, High Performance Logistics Manager
Phone: +64. (0) 2191 6187
Email: bryan@bikenz.org.nz
