A  Practice  Guide  for  Systems  Mapping    

 

AC4  Sustaining  Peace    

Stephen  Gray  Josefine  Roos    

What  and  Why  systems  mapping?  

Systems    mapping  

in  practice  

What  and  why  systems  mapping?  

� It’s  all  about  why  � Holistic:  understand  the  dynamic  influence  of  multiple  factors  � Non-­‐linearity    

� Sticking  points  and  tipping  points  � Emergence:  more  than  the  sum  of  parts  

� Leverage  points  for  system  change  � Anticipating  unintended  consequences  � Data:  chronology,  narratives,  groups  � Uses:  analysis,  strategy,  co-­‐learning    

Participatory  approaches  to  systems  mapping  

� Flips  the  researcher-­‐participant  paradigm  

� Facilitates  ownership  

� Multiple  perspectives  and  connections  (whole  system  view)  

� New  leverage  points  

Identifying  important  causal  dynamics  

Identifying  important  causal  dynamics  

Identifying  important  causal  dynamics  

Identifying  important  causal  dynamics  

Your  turn…  

�  Group  size?  �  Identify  situation  (not  on  map)  

�  Identify  causal  factors    �  Political,  economic,  social,  technological,  historical  

� Map  causal  relationships  

�  Reinforcing,  inhibiting  � What’s  notable?  

�  Loops  (reinforing/balancing)  �  Energy  hubs  �  Leverage  points  

�  Details  matter  

�  Facilitate,  not  dominate  

Is  this  useful  for  you?  

� What  does  this  approach  offer  you  that  other’s  don’t?  � What  did  you  like  or  dislike?  � How  would  you  use  this  in  your  work?  � How  would  you  improve  it?