Understanding the System
In this section you will find the following tools:
Systems Mapping
Systems Mapping
An essential component of systemic change is a shared understanding of what the system is – its components, its relationships and interconnectedness, its boundaries and its intended outcomes.
Ultimately, everything has an interdependency and as such, the universe in its entirety is a system. As a first step to understanding the system that is the focus of our change efforts, it is important to determine a boundary and decide what is in and what is out of the system. In setting a boundary, there is a recognition that the boundary will be permeable as it makes sense to engage more broadly. However, the initial boundary allows a concentration of collective effort and awareness.
It is helpful in determining the system boundary to ask a couple of questions:
• What or who are we trying to impact with our efforts?
• Where do we have access to levers for change?
Drawing the System
Once the system boundary is identified, the groups go on to depict all the components of the system – the individuals and organizations, and the interrelationships between those components. They also include some individuals and organizations that are just outside of their identified system boundary. This task is done simply – the group convenes around a piece of flip chart paper with felt pens and stickies and draws the system. Intensity of connections are depicted by the thickness of the line. When connections are tentative, they are represented by a dotted line.
This is a straightforward task, and during this exercise there is no attention paid to causal relationship or feedback loops within the system. However, the biggest learning often is that even when only considering these basic dimensions of the system, the system is extremely complex. Having this initial map allows participants to build the shared understanding of their system and an easy mechanism to relate this to other people. Recognizing the complexity of the relationships and interdependence provide a valuable lens for the consideration of any next steps.
4-D Mapping
4D mapping is one output from a process called Social Presencing Theater. The technique was developed under the leadership of Arawana Hayashi and has been used extensively by Otto Scharmer in his social change and innovation efforts around the world. It can brig “the system to life” and embodies the current reality of the system and presents an opportunity to emerge a new reality.
To begin the exercise, the group identifies a number of key actors or organizations within their system of focus. Typically, this includes children and families, schools and teachers, child protection services, the municipality, and a range of other service providers and funders. Each member of the group assumes the role of one of the actors. Each places themselves in relationship to the children and families who are at the center of the tableau, as well as to the other actors in the system. Each person also takes a posture that epitomizes the character and emotions of the role they are playing. This could be big or small, powerful or fearful, open or closed etc. A few minutes are given to allow people to adjust their positioning in relation to others and then all are asked to be still. Staying in their positions, time is taken for reflection on the experience and what insights have emerged for the participants. Next, all participants are asked to reposition themselves to what they envision could be a future reality for the system. This is not necessarily what people see as ideal, but rather what their insight on the current realities has led them to want to change or move within the system. Again a few minutes are given for all to adjust and then all are asked to be still. The exercise ends with a full debrief on the experience of each participant.
Books
Systems Thinking For Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results by David Peter Stroh | Oct 16, 2015
Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows and Diana Wright | Dec 3, 2008
Websites
FSG - Reimagining Social Change https://www.fsg.org/
Disruptive Design https://medium.com/disruptive-design/tools-for-systems-thinkers-systems-mapping-2db5cf30ab3a
Articles
4 D Mapping https://www.presencing.org/files/tools/PI_Tool_SPT_4DMapping.pdf
Videos
4D Mapping https://www.presencing.org/resource/tools/4D-mapping-desc