Final answer:
An issue map is a visual tool used for strategic thinking and problem-solving. It helps to organize and analyze complex issues, facilitating critical thinking and generating new ideas. Issue maps provide a systematic approach to understanding problems and identifying potential solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
An issue map is a tool used for strategic thinking and problem-solving. It is a visual representation that helps to organize and analyze complex issues or problems. It allows individuals or teams to identify the main components, relationships, and potential solutions related to a specific problem or topic.
Issue maps are helpful for strategic thinking because they provide a clear overview of the issue at hand. They allow for a systematic approach to analyzing and understanding the problem, as well as identifying potential solutions and their impact. By visualizing the different components and their interconnections, issue maps facilitate critical thinking and help in generating new ideas and insights.
For example, let's say a company is experiencing a decline in sales. By creating an issue map, they can identify the main factors contributing to the decline, such as changing customer preferences, increased competition, or ineffective marketing strategies. They can then analyze the relationships and interactions between these factors and develop strategies to address each one.