Student Resources
Ready to get started? Check out the upcoming workshops and resources to assist you in selecting your topic, researching, understanding systems + systems thinking, and mapping system.
Map The System Canada Workshops
Getting Started….
Selecting Your Topic
Selecting your topic will be one of the first but most important stages of your project. You can use one of the themes highlighted on the previous page for inspiration of potential focal areas. There is no limitation to the problem you can choose to focus on.
To get the most out of your Map the System project, we would suggest participants consider choosing a topic or challenge which:
They feel passionate about and/or
Have lived experience of and/or
Is an area they are already familiar with but want to understand on a deeper level.
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We suggest completing the following activities when aiming to choose a problem to focus on as a team (these resources should also prove helpful if you are working alone)
Take a few minutes to fill out the Problem Framing worksheet.
Share your ideas for problem statements as a group by referring to the questions outlined in the Problem Framing Activity shown below, keeping note of any that stand out; and
Decide on one or two problem statements to take forward and use the group worksheet to test out how they might look in more detail;
We also recommend using the Cause Diagram. use this Causes Diagram worksheet in order to break down your challenge to better understand the many factors of your problem. This will help streamline what about your problem you want to tackle and the other aspects that affect it.
Some questions to explore to determine whether you've selected the right focus or topic for your project might include:
Does the topic fall within one of the tracks, or across more than one of them?
Is the topic sufficiently broad in scope that participants can explore a range of different sources, people and organizations working in this field?
Is the topic narrow enough that a thorough and in-depth system analysis can be achieved within the allocated time?
Is the problem limited to a specific geography? Are there examples of similar problems occurring in different contexts that you could learn from?
Do you, or does your lead educator, have access to knowledge, resources and people in the chosen field?
Identifying a Systems Challenge with Dr. Katharine McGowan
Map the System Framing Your Problem
Identifying Colonial Influences in Systems
What is a Systems Problem?
(and How to Start Your Systems Analysis)
Research + Ethics
As part of Map the System teams should be conducting both primary and secondary research.Teams must also be sure to cite their sources correctly as part of the competition. In this section are some tips for engaging in ethical research and citation resources.
Here are some general ethical principles participants should consider when conducting interviews:
Informed consent – When reaching out to interviewees for research, it is important that participants explain in plain language what they will be giving information for and how it will be used. Participants should provide them with a way to opt-out if they change their mind at a later date.
Confidentiality – Interviewees should be made aware if any sensitive data might be used. Participants should also ensure interviewees have control over what they are willing to have shared publicly in reports and presentations.
Anonymity – Participants should not include any personally identifiable information about your research participants, unless they have explicit permission to do so.
Feedback & Transparency – Participants are encouraged to share their research with the individuals they have interviewed so they can see how their information was used.
Personal Safety – Most importantly, it is critical to ensure the safety of all participants when conducting research. Participants should never put themselves in a situation where there is risk of personal danger, and if in doubt, participants should speak with their educator or supervisor.
Citation Guides
Additional Resources
A Tool for Considering Ethics in Human Centred Design: This is a great article to review before diving into human centred design. There are many aspects to consider researching especially if you're interested in interviewing when working through your challenge.
Student Guide for Mapping a System: Research + Interview Tips (pg. 37-41)
What is Systems Thinking & Why Does it Matter?
“Systems thinking, a framework for seeing connections and interrelationships rather than just things, and for seeing patterns rather than isolated events. It contrasted with the traditional analysis method, which is centered around breaking systems down into their separate elements.”
“Systems thinking is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns rather than static snapshots. It is a set of general principles spanning fields as diverse as physical and social sciences, engineering and management.”
As part of Map the System, students must use a system thinking approach to researching a complex problem. Once you have identified your challenge and problem statement, teams should aim to develop your understanding of Systems Thinking and Systems Change.
Whether these are fairly new concepts or very familiar, these resources intend to develop your understanding and help to begin to consider how your initial project idea can be transformed into a systems map. The below videos and reading resources provide an introduction to systems thinking and share some different perspectives.
A Systems Story: A short introduction to key systems thinking concepts
A short and simple visualization of systems thinking - 4 mins 45 secs.
Systems Thinking
Short video explaining the primary differences between analytical methods of reasoning and systems thinking while also discussing the two methods that underpin them; synthesis and reductionism - 5 mins 40 secs.
Why use a systems practice?
This video illustrates the interconnections in a system and shows the how using short-term solutions or quick fixes can lead to negative results within a system, thus illustrating the important of adopting a systems approach - 3 mins 40 secs
Systems Change: What is it? Why does it matter?
Introduction to Systems Thinking
Systems thinking is a critical skill to understand and help drive social change. Systems mapping is a set of visual sense making and storytelling tools that use this systems thinking ‘lens’ to deepen our understanding of a social or environmental issue. Systems mapping also helps make these same issues understandable to a much broader audience (including the public, policymakers, and other students and changemakers).
Additional Resources
Guide: Student Guide for Mapping a System: Understanding a System (pg. 16-21)
Article: Systems Thinking: What, Why, When, Where, and How? | Michael Goodman
Article: Tools for Systems Thinkers: The 6 Fundamental Concepts of Systems Thinking: The 6 Fundamentals Concepts of Systems Thinking brings you into a new mindset when thinking about tackling wicked problems.
Film: "Breaking Boundaries" (2021). Also available on Netflix in some countries. David Attenborough and Earth system scientist Johan Rockström examine Earth's biodiversity collapse and how this crisis can still be averted.
Film: “Bending the Arc” (2017). Available on Netflix in some countries. This documentary follows a group of ambitious advocates whose mission to save lives in Haiti turns into a global fight for health care and justice.
Understanding Systems & Grameen Case Studies
Once you have identified your research topic, we recommend you use the resources listed below to examine the issue you have chosen. These resources and tools will help you to dig into the root causes of an issue and the mental models that are at play.
Case Studies
In partnership with the Grameen Creative Lab, the Map the System team organized an introductory workshop and a series of video case studies and supporting materials to provide examples of systems mapping in practice. Watch the case study relevant to your Track Area or watch every session.
Each case study will focus on systems thinking and how to use a systems mapping tool. Worksheets are available for each tool examined during the case study.
Economic Reset Track
Case Study 1: Grameen Bank - Iceberg Model
Through the discussion of the Grameen Bank case, you will learn about system thinking, focusing on the iceberg model and how to use it to identify problems and solve them.
Health Reset Track
Case Study 2: Caledonian Nursing College - Iceberg Model
Through the discussion of the Caledonian College of Nursing case, you will learn about system thinking, focusing on the iceberg model and how to use it to identify problems and solve them.
Climate Reset Track
Case Study 3: Climate Seed - Connected Circles
Through the discussion of the Climate Seed case, you will learn about system thinking, focusing on the mapping of connected circles and how to use it to better understand the system.
Social Reset Track
Case Study 4: Kunst Werk Küche - Casual Loops
Through the discussion of the Kunst Wek Küche case, you will learn about system thinking, focusing on the casual loops technique and how to use it to map the system.
Additional Resources
Iceberg Model: One systems thinking model that is helpful for understanding global issues is the iceberg model. We know that an iceberg has only 10 percent of its total mass above the water while 90 percent is underwater. But that 90 percent is what the ocean currents act on, and what creates the iceberg’s behaviour at its tip. Global issues can be viewed in this same way.
Tools for Systems Thinkers: The 6 Fundamental Concepts of Systems Thinking brings you into a new mindset when thinking about tackling wicked problems.
Student Guide for Mapping a System: Understanding a System (pg. 16-21)
Systems Mapping
Systems maps will form the heart of your Map the System projects. Systems are not merely the sum of their parts. It is the interconnections – the relationships, the flows of resources and information, the structures and mindsets – that give a system unique, emergent properties. Mapping helps us take a holistic view of a system, generate new insights, and identify opportunities for intervention.
There are a few different types of systems maps that you can use to visualize your findings. We recommend viewing one of the case studies above before selecting the systems mapping tool(s) you are going to use. Provided below are some videos created by the Systems Innovation organization, we have hand picked these videos for students to use.
Systems Mapping
The following video goes into detail on the benefits of a powerful visual tool - Systems Mapping.
Stakeholder Mapping
The next video will help you to dive deeper into stakeholder mapping and power mapping techniques.
The Iceberg Model
The Iceberg Model is a useful model when it comes to thinking about systems change. The following video covers what it is designed for and how you can use it.
Introduction to Systems Mapping Workshop with Peter Drobac
Prior to watching the Introduction to System Mapping Workshop, we recommend that you watch the short videos listed above for context. By the end of the workshop, you should gain an understanding of:
The role of systems mapping as a tool for understanding complex adaptive systems and ultimately fostering systemic change;
Some techniques for stakeholder mapping, causal loop mapping and the iceberg model; and
Reframing as a technique to reimagine the purpose of a system and articulate the desired system state.
Visual Storytelling
An essential component of Map the System is storytelling through mapping and graphic design. Attend this session to learn tips and tricks for designing your systems map(s). During this workshop students will get an overview of design tools that can be used to create visually aesthetic systems maps and examples of well-curated student projects.
Systems Thinking in Action: Solutions Mapping & Landscaping
As students advance with their systems analysis, understanding the existing solutions attempted through solutions mapping, are key in completing the analysis. This workshop will aim to look at real-world examples of systems change to illustrate this topic:
Once students have created their systems maps, we ask them to apply solutions mapping to analyse existing solutions that have been attempted in their context.
Explore the strengths & weaknesses of these attempted interventions - what worked, what hasn’t worked and why? What did these previous solutions miss? Whose perspective was missing? How can we learn from them?
We will also look at the concepts of Asset Framing and Positive Deviance to help with this.
At the end of this analysis, we ask students to make a recommendation of a systems intervention that addresses the weaknesses of previous attempted interventions.
Systems Interventions
One of the key parts of MTS projects you will explore over the coming weeks is the Solutions Landscape, identifying Impact Levers and recommending Systems Interventions. This workshop will aim to guide and support you through this final step of the project.
The workshop will be presented by the wonderful Darshan Sanghrajka, founder of Super Being Labs and co-founder of Being ManKind, as well as Social Reset track lead and tutor on the Oxford MBA systems change programme, GOTO.
Causal Loop Mapping
In this Map the System workshop we focused on supporting participants to understanding the theory and how to create Causal loop diagrams - a key tool for your systems maps. The session was presented by two brilliant guest speakers JJ Van de Vyver, from Visual Meaning, a specialist Oxford-based consultancy and Jeff Mohr, the co-founder of Kumu, a powerful systems mapping software and platform. In this session we provided an overview of causal loop diagrams and how they communicate complex systemic problems, how to begin drawing causal-loop and indicating the directionality, causation of causal relationships.
In addition to the resources above, we highly recommend reviewing the systems maps created by Map the System alumni teams.
Systems Mapping Tools
Are you ready to start preparing your systems map? We have prepared a list of tools and software that you can use to design a compelling systems map(s).
Kumu: Tool for complex mind mapping with the ability to integrate storytelling. REMINDER: Students registered for Map the System 2025 will get free access to Kumu in February. Instructions on registering for your free account have been emailed to you. If you did not receive this email, please contact adion@mtroyal.ca
Watch the Kumu intro video and tutorial here. In this overview, Kumu co-founder Jeff Mohr provides an overview of Kumu and Sticky Studio. You should be able to start using both tools following the tutorial.
Watch the detailed overview with Kumu's Founder, Jeff Mohr here. This session provides a more detailed overview on how Kumu can be used in different types of systems-mapping projects.
Canva: Free, user-friendly design platform
Insightmaker: Free system design software that runs in your browser
Noun Project: Resource for finding and downloading all types of icons that can be used in infographics.
Simple Mind: Mind mapping tool
Student Guide for Mapping a System: A resource created by Map the System Canada with a “Mapping a System” section that including 5Rs MODEL, Transition Theory, Journey Mapping, Feedback Loops, Timeline and Trend Mapping (pg. 52-60)
Venngage: Tool that provides templates for infographics
Additional Resources
Demystifying System Mapping: This is a great resource to take a look at if you’re not sure what a systems map is and why it is a great tool to use in order to understand a complex problem or challenge.
Impact Gaps Canvas: The Impact Gaps Canvas came out of Daniela Papi-Thornton’s research and is a tool that can be used by anyone who wants to understand the landscape of a problem and possibly identify some paths to how they might contribute to a solution.
1-on-1 Friday Support Sessions
Need help with topic selections, setting boundaries for your topic, going over systems mapping, interview tips for primary research, presentation practice, root causes exploration, or any general questions related to the competition? Ashley Dion, the program lead, is happy to help!