Phase 1 of 4

Understanding

Deepening understanding of the current state of a particular ecosystem

10 cards in this phaseTap any card to flip

The understanding phase helps build a shared reality by making ecosystems explicit, seeing interconnections, dynamics, causalities, roles, and relationships, as well as underlying values and core beliefs. Understanding is an initial stage of ecosystem catalyzation.

Key Tips

Describe the ecosystem "as is" rather than "as desired"
Watch out for the "analysis paralysis" trap
Embrace the moment of aporia (not knowing)
Engage multiple perspectives
Take into consideration the dynamic relationship of your ecosystem with wider systems

Suggested Tools

Participatory Action ResearchHistorical inquiryAction inquiryMappingTrauma-informed approach

PURPOSE & OUTCOMES

An ecosystem can be understood by the purpose it serves, the challenge which brings actors together, or the outcomes it produces.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What is the ecosystem we are looking at?
  • What is at the core of the ecosystem? And where are the boundaries?
  • What is the purpose of the ecosystem? Whom does it serve? Whom does it not serve?
  • What outcomes - both intended and unintended - does the ecosystem produce over time?

Tips

  • - Name the ecosystem you are looking at
  • - Use verbs to describe the purpose

Tools

Circle of Concern & Circle of InfluenceNested WholesNine Whys
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

VALUES & CORE BELIEFS

Every ecosystem is path dependent, contingent on the local context and the sequence of what happens. Values and core beliefs we hold about ourselves, other people, and the world around us are deeply ingrained in our ecosystems.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What metaphors can you use to describe the ecosystem?
  • What prevailing narratives exist in the ecosystem?
  • What core beliefs and values do we hold?
  • What collective experiences, emotions and feelings shape our core beliefs?

Tips

  • - Hold space
  • - Take time
  • - Be honest
  • - Allow yourself to be vulnerable
  • - Share stories

Tools

The Iceberg ModelMultiple Cause Diagrams
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

ACTORS & ROLES

Actors, whether organizations or individuals, and their interactions are at the heart of all human ecosystems. However, more important than the actors are the specific roles those actors take on within an ecosystem.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • Who are key actors in the ecosystem?
  • What roles do the actors play?
  • How effectively are the actors fulfilling the roles they have taken on?
  • Are there any roles missing?
  • What role(s) are you playing and how do you feel about it?

Tips

  • - Look at the periphery
  • - Engage multiple perspectives

Tools

The 5Rs FrameworkStakeholder AnalysisActor MappingRoles in Adaptive Systems
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

CONNECTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS

Social ecosystems are made up of people. Connections and relationships are the essence and fabric of every human ecosystem. They occur between actors playing particular roles and can be characterized along several dimensions.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What connections exist between actors in the ecosystem?
  • Who are the actors with the highest and lowest number of connections?
  • What types of relationships exist between the actors?
  • How would you describe the qualities of these relationships?
  • How does power show up in these relationships?

Tips

  • - When reflecting on power, be aware of your own positionality, perspective, and privileges
  • - Be open for difficult conversations
  • - Pay attention to the periphery

Tools

The 5Rs FrameworkSocial Network Analysis
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

RESOURCES

Resources refer to the various elements that ecosystems require to function and thrive within their social environments. These resources can be tangible or intangible, and play a crucial role in shaping the connections, relationships, and overall well-being of the ecosystem.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What resources and assets - both tangible and intangible - are currently in use?
  • How do resources flow within the ecosystem?
  • What are the sources of those resources?
  • Are there any resource inflows that are missing or insufficient?
  • What flows through relationships and connections in the ecosystem?

Tips

  • - Use the actors map as a starting point for mapping the assets
  • - De-individualize resources (think in roles not people!)
  • - Look for tangible and intangible asset flows

Tools

Actor MappingAsset Mapping
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

RULES & NORMS

Rules, norms, and principles refer to the formal laws, regulations, and statutes as well as less formal norms, incentives, and common expectations that influence the structure of the ecosystem and the way it functions.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What rules (formal), and norms (informal) affect the way the ecosystem functions?
  • Are the relevant rules formal (laws) or informal (norms, rituals)?
  • Are relevant rules enforced? How well/effectively/equitably?
  • Are actors able to influence the rules and norms that affect them?
  • What are the core principles governing interactions and dynamics?

Tips

  • - Focus on the behavior of the ecosystem actors and trace this back to rules, norms, and principles

Tools

The 5Rs FrameworkThe Iceberg ModelMultiple Cause Diagrams
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

PULSE

The "pulse" of an ecosystem refers to collective intentions, as well as rhythmic patterns and energy dynamics that occur over time and give insights into the overall health, challenges, and resilience of the ecosystem.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What feelings and emotions arise when you interact with people in the ecosystem?
  • How do you perceive people in the ecosystem? Do they seem energized, hopeful, caring, tired, traumatized?
  • What is the pace of life within the ecosystem?
  • Where do you feel energy, momentum, resistance, tensions?

Tips

  • - Listen to understand
  • - Trust your gut feeling

Tools

Mindful practices such as yoga and meditationGenerative Listening
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

WIDER CONTEXT

The wider context around an ecosystem refers to the broader environmental, cultural, economic, political, and historical factors that influence its dynamics, ability to function, and evolution.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What trends (social, political, economic, environmental) are likely to affect your ecosystem?
  • What governmental policies and actions are likely to affect your ecosystem?
  • What implications might emergent technologies have on your ecosystem?
  • What bright spots have you seen that point to promising approaches?

Tips

  • - Take a bird's-eye view
  • - Pay attention to weak signals of change

Tools

STEEPLE analysisMultilevel PerspectiveWorld Mandala
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

SENSEMAKING

Understanding

SM

Sensemaking is the process of deepening our awareness and understanding of complex environments. As a practice, it enables us to formulate better questions, even if we don't always arrive at a concrete answer.

- Understanding Flip

Starting Questions

  • What do you notice when you look at the whole picture?
  • What do you think about what you are noticing?
  • How does it make you feel?
  • What surprised you most? Why?
  • What patterns can you spot across the ecosystem?
  • What questions do you have now?

Tips

  • - Craft your narrative together with others
  • - Tell the story to other actors in the ecosystem
  • - Document feedback
Ecosystem Cards Flip back

Next

Envisioning