Systems Mapping
Purpose
To visually and collaboratively explore the relationships, behaviours, and structures that shape sustainability and biodiversity-related challenges. Systems mapping helps surface hidden dynamics, identify leverage points, and support inclusive planning and change-making across organisations, communities or teams.
Key Features
Participants:
- Ideal group size: 8–15
- Suitable for cross-functional teams, community groups or multi-stakeholder workshops
Estimated Timeframe:
- 1–1.5 hours (plus time for introductions and icebreakers if needed)
- Can be extended across multiple sessions
Budget Level:
- Low
- Main costs: staff time, facilitation, optional printing or digital platform access
Materials Needed:
- Large paper or whiteboard (or online tools like Miro/MURAL)
- Sticky notes in multiple colours
- Markers or pens
- Institutionally approved ethical information and consent forms (if collecting data)
- Optional: stickers for prioritisation, camera/scanner for documentation
- Optional: refreshments or venue hire
Skills Required:
- Facilitation and inclusive communication
- Visual thinking and note synthesis
- Adaptability and ethical awareness
- Optional: systems thinking or stakeholder engagement experience
Case Study
Method in Practice
Context of Use
Used in business and sustainability contexts to explore issues such as biodiversity volunteering, ethical procurement or workplace culture. The method helps identify barriers, enablers, and opportunities for change by mapping direct and indirect influences on a chosen issue.
How It Worked
Participants defined a central issue and used an 'onion model' to map factors influencing it – starting with direct elements (e.g. policies, access) and expanding to indirect ones (e.g. culture, norms). Enablers and barriers were identified, prioritised and used to develop realistic change pathways.
Engagement & Participation
The method encouraged open dialogue, reflection, and co-creation. Participants contributed insights from lived experience, helping surface emotional, relational and structural dynamics. Mapping was participatory and iterative, with space for diverse voices.
Outcomes & Insights:
- Clarified complex sustainability challenges
- Identified actionable priorities and leverage points
- Fostered shared understanding across roles and departments
- Supported inclusive planning and relational change
- Created a visual tool for ongoing dialogue and alignment
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths:
- Accessible and low-cost
- Supports deep reflection and systems thinking
- Adaptable to many contexts and issues
- Encourages inclusive participation and shared ownership
- Can be digitised and revisited over time
Considerations:
- Requires skilled facilitation to manage group dynamics
- Emotional or narrative insights may emerge; support needed
- Impact depends on follow-up and integration into planning
- Mapping should be positioned as a process, not a one-off
- Visual clarity and documentation are key for sharing outcomes
