Systems Mapping

What's its purpose in systems grantmaking?

To identify the most influential variables, prioritize high-leverage points for collective action, and test the impact of possible interventions on a system. Also, to form a shared vision of the ideal system and key systems indicators.

What is it?

Systems Mapping is a visual mapping resource that looks at how variables interact over time and form patterns of behaviors across the system. It combines two other visual mapping resources: Causal Loop Mapping with Stock and Flow Diagrams.

When is it useful?

When the complexity of the problem makes it difficult to untangle cause and effect and identify effective solutions
When collective actions are needed from multiple stakeholders to shift the system
When trying to influence a system at the macro, global, or multinational level
When dynamics in the overall system are replicated in subsystems (e.g., national issues replicated in multiple states)

Example from the field

How does Systems Mapping work?

The Walton Family Foundation engaged systems stakeholders in a participatory process, facilitated by the Academy for Systemic Change, to map the fishery and ocean conservation systems. According to the academy, the resulting systems map “reveals one way of seeing the system of fishery and ocean conversation, the theory of change of various interventions, and how they interact with each other.” The map was used to form a collective impact strategy among the funders and grantees.1

The foundation team members began the mapping process by developing a precise understanding of how multiple variables interact in the fishery and ocean conservation systems over time. This understanding is represented through a causal loop map superimposed onto a stock and flow diagram. The causal loop map is represented by the circular loops with arrows on the map. The arrows show the interconnected variables and the direction of influence among variables. The stock and flow diagrams is represented by the rectangles and straight arrows on the map. The lines show how stock increases or decreases over time as a result of specific flows. System maps need both causal loops and stock and flow diagrams to show the precise linkages between the causal loops and how tangible things change over time.

In the example, the stock and flow diagram shows that regeneration rates increase the stock of juvenile fish and maturation rates decrease the juvenile stock and increase the adult fish stock (as juveniles move into the adult stock). The various loops show the variables that impact this process and the population size of juvenile and adult fish, and thus offer areas for influencing the process. Related diagrams and accompanying documents can be found on the Academy for Systemic Change’s website.

1. Results of the collective impact strategy are not publicly available.

What are tips and cautions for systems grantmakers and the social sector?

Systems Mapping could help to prioritize where grantmakers need to focus. By identifying the most influential variables, there is potential for elegant solutions to influence patterns over time that can be replicated and scaled for different geographies.
The maps can be a challenge to understand for those who are not visual thinkers. They can also seem abstract, and their meaning can be hard to convey to stakeholders. Bringing people into the analysis early helps to diminish these challenges.
Systems Mapping is often used as a tool for stakeholder engagement by “bringing the system into the room.” It should be a living map that guides actions and is revised as the system changes over time.

Resources

Systemic Change Process Map

By Joe Hsueh, Ph.D.
Academy for Systemic Change

Link to Map

Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System

By Heather McLeod Grant
Monitor Institute, 2010

Link to Article

Acknowledgments

Joe Hsueh, Ph.D.

Founding Partner, Academy for Systemic Change

Systems Grantmaking Resource Guide

Resource Type

Visual Mapping

Systems Questions

Variables

Patterns and Structure

Grantmaking Stages

Develop grantmaking strategy

Identify and select grantees

Participation

Flexible from no/some participation to highly participatory

Expertise

An expert with specialized knowledge or technology

Time

1-5 months