Concept maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge.

They include:

• Concepts – usually enclosed in circles or boxes of some type, and
• Relationships between concepts – indicated by a connecting line linking two concepts.

Documentation for the software Flying Logic (which helps create concept maps) explains:

Concept maps use two entity classes, Concept (dot) and Relation (arrow). Concepts are read entirely from their entity titles.

Concept Maps start with one or more main concepts at the root, and relations are used between concepts to connect in supporting concepts.

The main rule when building Concept Maps is that each Concept>Relation>Concept step should be readable as a complete sentence.

Additional relevant concepts can be added in any order, and connected in as many places as they are used.

As an example, the following Concept Map from the Flying Logic documentation gives an overview of the Theory of Constraints Future Reality Tree.

Read a full explanation on Concept Maps and how to construct and use them by Novak and Canas.