Assignment objectives:
• Examine the organizations and relationships within the system your sustainability focus area
• 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 you chose for the Community Sustainability Gap Analysis and Recommendation assignment. 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(Links to an external site.) 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 (Links to an external site.)); 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.
After you focus on sustainability efforts at a local level, review the Sustainable Development Goals. (Links to an external site.) 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, a mission-driven consulting firm.
The systems maps that you generate for your proposal project 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. Complete each section of the narrative in 1-2 paragraphs.
Section 1: Understand context
• Understand an issue’s landscape/context and history (e.g., key actors, organizations, initiatives, activities)
o Why has this issue been identified as an important issue in Corvallis (or another community of your choice)?
• Explore how contextual factors (e.g. social, economic, environmental) influence the system and each other
o Who has been most impacted by this issue in Corvallis (or another community of your choice)? Who is working on addressing this issue?
Section 2: Understand Connections
Required:
• Identify key actors; consider who is, has been, or should be involved
• Explore various actors’ roles in the system
o What roles are organizations already playing in identifying and implementing community level responses or solutions to the issue? Consider how your recommendation fits in to further addressing this 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
o 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
o What specific communities is each organization serving?
• Identify key trends that may influence the system
o These trends can be Corvallis specific or more widespread.
Optional:
• Identify risks and diagnose challenges
• Identify areas of common interest, concern or excitement
Section 4: Consider Multiple Perspectives
Required:
• Explore a topic with multiple diverse perspectives in mind
o How will you ensure that you are including a diversity of voices as you design and implement your recommendation?
• Understand stakeholders’ perspectives on issues within the system and the impact of those perspectives
o How will you identify and engage relevant stakeholders?
• Consider who is, has been, or should be involved
o 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
Sample Solution