What is Systems Mapping?
Systems Mapping is a practical, visual method that helps surface the various components and interactions of a system, helping participants more clearly understand how people, processes, and power interact.
The method supports collective reflection, making it easier to:
- Understand drivers of behaviour that might not always be visible
- Plot cultural or interpersonal dynamics
- Identify where meaningful and realistic change can begin
In this module Lindy Binder explains Systems Mapping, in this video she introduces the PLANET4B case study and the method:
Systems Mapping can be a valuable tool across a wide range of sustainability challenges in business. It can help with:
- Addressing challenges shaped by relationships, habits, and organisational culture - such as encouraging positive behaviours, embedding biodiversity into daily operations, integrating sustainability into wellbeing initiatives, or improving inclusion in green activities
- Identifying potential stakeholders and partnerships, including under-recognised actors such as NGOs, community groups, or internal networks
- Mapping influence and trust across stakeholder relationships to support more effective cross-sector collaboration
- Exposing how roles, responsibilities and norms interact across departments or teams, particularly where sustainability is distributed or diffuse
- Understanding how Environmental, Social, and Governance priorities are interpreted and acted upon across different areas of the business
- Identifying gaps between stated sustainability goals and what users, staff, or customers actually experience
- Surfacing overlooked voices and creating a shared understanding of barriers, enablers, and potential entry points for change
in this video Lindy Binder explains how Systems Mapping was used within PLANET4B:
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Key Factors
Group:
When identifying invitees for the Systems Mapping workshop, aim for a group with a range of experiences, perspectives and roles — across departments, seniority levels, and experiences. The ideal group size is between 8 –15 people, if you have more than this then consider running the mapping in breakout groups or across multiple sessions.
Timeframe:
The Systems Mapping workshop takes 1-1.5 hours, but you might want to allow slightly longer if you are working with a group who do not all already know one-another, to allow time for introductions and an ice breaker exercise.
Skills required:
This is a relatively straight-forward method to facilitate. The main skills include:
- Basic facilitation skills to guide inclusive, open conversation
- Ability to synthesise and group ideas as they emerge
- Note-taking and visual thinking (e.g. arranging sticky notes, drawing connections)
- Optional: experience with stakeholder engagement or systems thinking frameworks
Materials Needed:
- Large paper or whiteboard (or an online whiteboard like Miro/MURAL)
- Sticky notes or digital note tools in different colours
- Markers or pens
- Optional: stickers or dots for prioritisation exercises
- Camera or scanner to capture the final map
Budget:
This method is relatively low-budget.
- Main costs are staff time and facilitation
- Optional costs may include printing, refreshments, or digital platform access (if online)
