Systems Map Assignment

Assignment objectives:
Examine the systems and organizations you interacted with/learned about in your Community Engagement Requirement
Create a systems map visual to highlight the most critical components of your system and interactions between these components
Describe the system depicted by your map with a 1-2 page narrative

Part 1: Systems Map (24 points)
Create a systems map for the sustainability focus area aligned with your Community Engagement Requirement experience. You may create the visual electronically, using the software of your choice or you may create the visual by hand and submit a high quality photo of your map.

Begin by using the required readings to gain an understanding of systems mapping. Use this exercise to further explore the topic you have chosen.

When mapping a system, you will have to determine the appropriate boundary. Use this blog to help you think through the process of drawing a boundary. Systems Thinking Scales(https://medium.com/disruptive-design/tools-for-systems-thinkers-getting-into-systems-dynamics-and-bathtubs-1f961f7c4073.) You are welcome to focus on the Corvallis community or to shift your focus to your local community.

You should begin mapping by creating a brainstorm cluster map (Systems Mapping (https://medium.com/disruptive-design/tools-for-systems-thinkers-systems-mapping-2db5cf30ab3a.)); basically jotting down everything you can think of that relates to your chosen sustainability focus area on a sheet of paper.

Refine your systems map down to highlight the most important components (organizations, individuals, stakeholders, etc.) and impacts on the surrounding community. Consider the critical organizations in your sustainability focus area and how they interact with one another. Consider impacts within all three dimensions of sustainability.

Next, we’ll connect local efforts to a global sustainability framework. After you focus on sustainability efforts at a local level, review the Sustainable Development Goals. (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.) Choose one or two goals that are most appropriate and show how they connect conceptually to your local system. Also use the criteria below for your systems map narrative to guide your mapping.

Part 2: Systems Map Narrative (36 points)
Objective: Explain the systems map that you created and elaborate on the important components and interactions. Use the criteria below for guidance.

These criteria are adapted from a framework created by FSG, reimagining social change (https://www.fsg.org/.).

The systems maps that you generate will allow to to further reflect on your community engagement experience and the corresponding sustainability focus area. The systems map will enable you to better:

Understand context
Understand connections
Identify patterns
Incorporate diverse perspectives
There are specific elements that we would like you to explore in each of the categories above. You must include all required elements in your systems map narrative. You may choose which of the optional elements to include. It will be difficult to incorporate all of this information in the systems map itself and we do not recommend that you try! Part of the process of mapping involves figuring out what information you feel is critical include in your systems map. You can elaborate on the system in your systems map narrative. Complete each section of the narrative in 1-2 paragraphs.

Section 1: Understand context
Understand an issues landscape/context and history (e.g., key actors, organizations, initiatives, activities)
Why have you identified this as an important issue in your chosen community?
Explore how contextual factors (e.g. social, economic, environmental) influence the system and each other
Who has been most impacted by this issue in your chosen community? Who is working on addressing this issue?

Section 2: Understand Connections
Required:
Identify key actors (organizations and/or individuals); consider who is, has been, or should be involved
Explore various actors roles in the system
What roles are organizations already playing in identifying and implementing community level responses or solutions to the issue?
Optional:
Think about new connections that could be made
How could trust be built between actors and relationships be strengthened?
What could be accomplished with new connections and strengthened relationships
How could additional partnerships potentially increase the impact of the response?

Section 3: Identifying patterns
Required:
Understand how an organization is allocating its energy and resources across the system
What specific communities is each organization serving?
Identify key trends that may influence the system
These can be local trends or more widespread trends
Optional:
Identify risks to the system and diagnose challenges to responding to the sustainability problem identified
Identify areas of common interest, concern or excitement

Section 4: Consider Multiple Perspectives
Required:
Explore a topic with multiple diverse perspectives in mind
How could you ensure that you are including a diversity of voices as you consider next steps in responding to your identified sustainability problem?
Understand stakeholders perspectives on issues within the system and the impact of those perspectives
How will you identify and engage relevant stakeholders?
Consider who is, has been, or should be involved
Are there underrepresented groups that you should make a special effort to reach out to?
Optional:
Identify stakeholders priorities
Understand stakeholders values, beliefs, and priorities and the impact on the system

Last Completed Projects