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The Systems Tools MatrixAPRIL 2016

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Using the Systems Tool Matrix

1. The first step in selecting an appropriate tool is to consider where you are in the systems thinking cycle. As you may remember from our first post  in this series, this cycle has 3 inter-linked phases: understanding an issue and the system in which it lives, creating a plan for action (which could also be an evaluation plan), and learning and refining as you go. Once you have determined where you are in the cycle, move to the correct “page” of the matrix and proceed to step 2.

2. The next step in selecting an appropriate tool is to determine your learning objective(s). (It can be helpful to think of these objectives questions you are trying to answer.) We have identified nearly 2 dozen different learning objectives that are relevant when looking at an issue from a systems perspective. The System Tools Matrix sorts these learning objectives into 4 categories, aligned to the characteristics of complexity identified in last week’s blog post:

– Understanding context– Understanding connections– Identifying patterns– Incorporating diverse perspectives

3. Next, you can use the matrix to identify one or more tools that may be useful in achieving your learning objective(s). The example on the next page illustrates how you would use the matrix to select one or more tools that would help you understand an issue and the system(s) in which it lives.

4. Finally, you can refer to the guidance that we will begin releasing next month for more detailed information on using specific tools. (This guidance can be particularly useful if the matrix identifies more than one tool as appropriate for your learning objective(s).) 

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Step 2: Use the color-coded matrices on the following pages to match your learning objectives to one or more systems tools.

Mapping / visualization tools Conversational / Story-Based

Trend mapping

Actor mapping

Timeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping World Café AI

<Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective> <Sample learning objective>

How to Use the System Tools Matrix: Step 1

Understand an issue and the system(s) in which it lives

Create a plan for action

Learn and refine as you go

[What is it?] [What should it be?] [How is it working?]

Step 1: Select the segment of the System Thinking Framework that best matches where your client is in their journey

How to Use the System Tools Matrix: Step 2

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Mapping / visualization tools

Conversational / story-based tools

I want to…Actor

mappingTrend

mappingTimeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping

World Café AI

Understand ContextUnderstand an issue’s landscape/context and history(e.g., key actors, organizations, initiatives, activities) ü ü ü  Explore how contextual factors (e.g., social, economic, cultural) influence a topic/goal (and each other) ü ü   ü ü

Understand ConnectionsIdentify key actors; consider who is, has been, or should be involved ü  Explore various actors’ roles in the system ü   üEncourage participants to make new connections   ü üStrengthen relationships and build trust among participants   ü ü

Identify Patterns

Understand how an organization is allocating its energy and resources across the lifecycle ü

Consider Multiple Perspectives

Explore a topic/issue from multiple diverse perspectives   ü üEnsure equal footing among participant voices   ü üUnderstand beneficiary experiences of the issue/initiative   üUnderstand partners’ and other stakeholders’ per-spectives on the issue or initiative (e.g., why it matters)   ü üUnderstand participants’ values, beliefs, and priorities   ü

Understand an issue and the system(s) in which it lives

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Create a plan for action(page 1)

Mapping / visualization tools

Conversational / story-based tools

I want to…Actor

mappingTrend

mappingTimeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping

World Café AI

Understand ContextUnderstand an issue’s landscape/context and history(e.g., key actors, organizations, initiatives, activities) ü ü ü  Explore how contextual factors (e.g., social, political, economic, cultural) influence a topic/goal (and each other) ü ü   ü ü

Understand ConnectionsIdentify key actors; consider who is, has been, or should be involved ü  Explore various actors’ roles in the system ü   üDiagnose the strength of connections among actors ü  Explore relationships, momentum, and energy among key trends ü  Encourage participants to make new connections   ü üStrengthen relationships and build trust among participants   ü ü

Identify Patterns (continued on next page)

Determine where the energy is in the system and where there are gaps or blockages ü ü üIdentify key trends (e.g., increases, decreases, appearances, disappearances, evolutions, adaptations) that may influence the topic/goal

ü 

Understand the group’s role or focus and how it has shifted over time ü  Explore how the focus of other actors (or the larger system in general) has shifted over time ü  Break old thought patterns; catalyze new ideas and thinking   ü ü

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Create a plan for action(page 2)

Mapping / visualization tools

Conversational / story-based tools

I want to…Actor

mappingTrend

mappingTimeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping

World Café AI

Patterns (continued from previous page)

Understand how an organization or initiative is allocating its energy and resources across the lifecycle üIdentify risks and diagnose challenges related to “traps” in the ecocycle üIdentify areas of common interest, concern, or excitement   ü ü

Perspectives

Consider who is, has been, or should be involved ü  Identify opportunities to build new relationships and explore other parts of the system ü  Explore a topic or issue from multiple diverse perspectives   ü üEnsure equal footing among participant voices   ü üUnderstand beneficiary experiences of the issue or initiative   ü üUnderstand partners’ and other key stakeholders’ perspectives on the issue or initiative (e.g., why it matters)   ü üUnderstand participants’ individual values, beliefs, and priorities   üIdentify partners’ and stakeholders’ learning priorities   ü ü

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Learn and refine as you go (page 1)

Mapping / visualization tools

Conversational / story-based tools

I want to…Actor

mappingTrend

mappingTimeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping

World Café AI

Understand ContextExplore how contextual factors (e.g., social, political, economic, cultural) influence a topic/goal (and each other) ü ü   ü üPut a group’s progress/challenges in context (e.g., relative to external factors, key activities, funding levels) ü   ü ü

ConnectionsExplore how relationships, roles, or information flows are changing or have changed ü ü   üExplore the relationship between the group’s activities/achievements and other actors’ activities/achievements

ü 

üPatterns (continued on next page)

Determine where the energy is in the system and where there are gaps or blockages ü ü ü ü üIdentify key trends (e.g., increases, decreases, appearances, disappearances, evolutions, adaptations) that may influence the topic/goal

ü 

Understand the group’s role or focus and how this has shifted over time ü  Explore how the focus of other actors (or the larger system in general) has shifted over time ü  

Visualize momentum, traction, and trends over time ü  Understand how an organization is allocating its energy and resources across the lifecycle (and/or how this allocation has changed over time)

ü

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Learn and refine as you go(page 2)

Mapping / visualization tools

Conversational / story-based tools

I want to…Actor

mappingTrend

mappingTimeline mapping

Ecocycle mapping

World Café AI

Identify Patterns (continued on next page)

Identify risks and diagnose challenges related to “traps” in the ecocycle üUnderstand how policies are changing ü ü   ü üUnderstand how structures are changing ü ü   ü üUnderstand how social and cultural norms are changing ü ü   ü üUnderstand how a strategy or initiative is evolving from a lifecycle perspective üUnderstand the relationships between outputs / outcomes and external events ü ü   ü

Perspectives

Consider who is, has been, or should be involved ü  Identify opportunities to build new relationships and explore other parts of the system ü  Explore a topic or issue from multiple diverse perspectives   ü üEnsure equal footing among participant voices   ü üUnderstand beneficiary experiences of the issue or initiative   üUnderstand partners’ and other key stakeholders’ perspectives on the issue or initiative (e.g., why it matters)   ü ü

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