Models for Seeing Systems

_I need to add AOE (agent + object -> event) or Tripod Beta risk and accident diagramming._

The approach to modeling in ReLocalize Creativity is to reveal rich perspectives and possibilities (leverage points) in particular systems--NOT to create generalized models.

Our generalizations will be published as Patterns.

This is a set of models that we have found very useful for making sense of complex social and technical systems.

Text is pretty small so you will need to zoom in the webpage with (command +). In the future I will break these up so text is larger.

We will be introducing each of these in depth. Right now the Causal Models set has content. Click on the text to open related pages.

See enlarged view **here .** I will attempt to add hyperlinks on this page--later.

See Causal Models

If you choose to explore the models illustrated and explained below, please consider this: beauty is the basis for using all the models, including Beauty, Good, Truth, Economy. That is why I put it at the top along with the most general model of humans taking action together: Social Action Tetrahedron. All the models below these two must be informed by these or they will lead to no good.

Everything is clickable in the diagram.

Open large view in new tab here

See Tetrahedron +++

Canvas 1 Layer 1 Vester’s Sensitivity Modeling Causal Models Cynefin 6 Nesting Contexts, 6 Q&As Time (When?) Paradigmatic (Why?) Place (Where?) Political (Who?) Non-linear (How?) Linear (What?) Chaotic Systems Social Complexity Complicated Systems Simple Systems Model-Based Systems Engineering OPM Causal Loop Model Stock Flow Model System Dynamics Model VSM Sofi Process Maps Linkage Mapping Value Stream Mapping A3 Problem Solving System Description Criteria Matrix Variable Set Effect System Impact Matrix Good (Ethics) Critical Systems Thinking Campfire Conversations Cave Drawing Syntegration Partial Scenerio Systemic Role (Leverage) Simulation Cybernetic Evaluation Economy (Surplus) Truth (Ecology) Beauty (Aesthetics / Passion) Ideals Persons Orgs Action Social Action Tetrahedron Beauty Good Truth Economy Statistical Models DSRP Good (Ethics) Economy (Surplus) Truth (Ecology) Beauty (Aesthetics / Passion) Beauty Good Truth Economy Soft Systems Methodology CREATIVITY Problem Solving System Models and Modeling System Modeling Languages Define Measurement Points (and KPIs) Discover Leverage Points Linkage Mapping VSM Sofi Linkage Mapping Integration Idealized Design OPM EIP Stage Storyboard Boundary Critique Bayesian Belief Models

Old (delete?)

Canvas 1 Layer 1 Vester’s Sensitivity Modeling Causal Models Cynefin 6 Nesting Contexts, 6 Q&As Time (When?) Paradigmatic (Why?) Place (Where?) Political (Who?) Non-linear (How?) Linear (What?) Chaotic Systems Social Complexity Complicated Systems Simple Systems Model-Based Systems Engineering OPM Causal Loop Model Stock Flow Model System Dynamics Model VSM Sofi Process Maps Linkage Mapping Value Stream Mapping A3 Problem Solving System Description Criteria Matrix Variable Set Effect System Impact Matrix Good (Ethics) Bayesian Belief Models Campfire Conversations Cave Drawing Syntegration Partial Scenerio Systemic Role (Leverage) Simulation Cybernetic Evaluation Economy (Surplus) Truth (Ecology) Beauty (Aesthetics / Passion) Ideals Persons Orgs Action Social Action Tetrahedron Beauty Good Truth Economy Statistical Models DSRP Good (Ethics) Economy (Surplus) Truth (Ecology) Beauty (Aesthetics / Passion) Beauty Good Truth Economy Soft Systems Methodology CREATIVITY Problem Solving System Models and Modeling System Modeling Languages Define Measurement Points (and KPIs) Discover Leverage Points Linkage Mapping VSM Sofi Linkage Mapping Integration Idealized Design OPM

# Sequence matters. A lot.

See A Pattern Sequence

I am always talking about social systems and artifacts that support people in social systems. I am always talking about planet earth. I am always talking about the present in the context of a future--at least a seven generation future for people on planet earth organized locally in order to take care of ourselves and to avoid hurting other selves.

See Systems Apprenticeship

Consider starting with DSRP.

See SODOTO

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> Figure out what is missing: > * Critical Systems Thinking? > * Soft Systems Methodology? > * Boundary Critique?

# Let's keep a running list of our **Federated Apprenticeship Skills Sharing** to track with SODOTO: * Speech Acts (Negotiated Commitments) * Campfire Conversation--Cave Drawing Set * Causal Loop Diagramming * Sofi-VSM * VSM * EIP Stage Sketching * Stock Flow Modeling * System Dynamics Modeling * Six Context Questions * Social Action Tetrahedron (POIA) * Social System Tetrahedron (BGTE) * Cynefin * 15 Ps * Process Mapping * Linkage Mapping * Value Stream Mapping * A3 Problem Solving * Bayesian Belief Modeling * Vester's Sensitivity Systems Modeling (nine interacting skills, one piece of software) * Object Process Methodology (OPM, OPCloud) * Model-based System Engineering * Persistent Syntegrating * Distinction-System-Relationship-Perspective (DSRP) * Story Mapping * Pattern Writing * Ganz Organizing Story Sequence * FedWiki * Arrows Diagram, GraphViz * Neo4j * Tom Sawyer Perspective * Conversation Taxonomy * Local News Paper in FedWiki * Safety Diagramming (Tripod)

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# Federated Apprenticeship Skills Sharing ## SODOTO Skills Registry ### ReLocalize Creativity Network #### Version 0.1 — 2026-03-01 --- ## Purpose This registry tracks all skills designated for SODOTO certification within the ReLocalize Creativity Network. Each skill represents a domain of practice that can be transmitted through the See One, Do One, Teach One apprenticeship model. The registry is a living document. Skills are added as the network identifies practitioners capable of seeding the teaching chain. --- ## Skill Status Key | Status | Meaning | |--------|---------| | **Active** | At least one credential issued, teaching chain begun | | **Ready** | Mentor identified, no credentials issued yet | | **Candidate** | Nominated for SODOTO, mentor not yet identified | --- ## Registry | # | Skill | Slug | Status | First Mentor | Notes | |---|-------|------|--------|-------------|-------| | 1 | Causal Loop Diagramming | causal-loop-diagramming | **Active** | Kerry Turner | First credential: Marc Pierson 2025-12-10 | | 2 | Stock Flow Modeling | stock-flow-modeling | Candidate | — | Natural successor to CLD in system dynamics pathway | | 3 | System Dynamics Modeling | system-dynamics-modeling | Candidate | — | Encompasses CLD + Stock Flow; may be a meta-skill | | 4 | Sofi-VSM | sofi-vsm | Candidate | — | Integration of two frameworks; may require paired credentials | | 5 | VSM | vsm | Candidate | — | Viable System Model; standalone or paired with Sofi | | 6 | EIP Stage Sketching | eip-stage-sketching | Ready | — | Second active skill; first mentor to be identified | | 7 | Six Context Questions | six-context-questions | Candidate | — | | | 8 | Social Action Tetrahedron (POIA) | social-action-tetrahedron | Candidate | — | POIA framework | | 9 | Social System Tetrahedron (BGTE) | social-system-tetrahedron | Candidate | — | BGTE framework | | 10 | Cynefin | cynefin | Candidate | — | Sense-making framework | | 11 | 15 Ps | fifteen-ps | Candidate | — | | | 12 | Process Mapping | process-mapping | Candidate | — | | | 13 | Linkage Mapping | linkage-mapping | Candidate | — | | | 14 | Value Stream Mapping | value-stream-mapping | Candidate | — | | | 15 | A3 Problem Solving | a3-problem-solving | Candidate | — | Toyota-originated structured problem solving | | 16 | Bayesian Belief Modeling | bayesian-belief-modeling | Candidate | — | | | 17 | Vester's Sensitivity Systems Modeling | vesters-sensitivity-modeling | Candidate | — | Nine interacting skills, one piece of software; may warrant a credential cluster | | 18 | Object Process Methodology (OPM / OPCloud) | object-process-methodology | Candidate | — | Software-dependent; OPCloud tooling | | 19 | Model-based Systems Engineering | model-based-systems-engineering | Candidate | — | | | 20 | Persistent Syntegrating | persistent-syntegrating | Candidate | — | | | 21 | Distinction-System-Relationship-Perspective (DSRP) | dsrp | Candidate | — | Cabrera Research Lab framework | | 22 | Story Mapping | story-mapping | Candidate | — | | | 23 | Pattern Writing | pattern-writing | Candidate | — | Christopher Alexander lineage | | 24 | Ganz Organizing Story Sequence | ganz-organizing-story-sequence | Candidate | — | Marshall Ganz; narrative organizing method | | 25 | FedWiki | fedwiki | Candidate | — | Meta-skill: the platform itself as a practice | | 26 | Campfire Conversation — Cave Drawing Set | campfire-conversation | Candidate | — | | | 27 | Arrows Diagram / GraphViz | arrows-diagram-graphviz | Candidate | — | Diagramming toolchain | | 28 | Neo4j | neo4j | Candidate | — | Graph database practice | | 29 | Tom Sawyer Perspective | tom-sawyer-perspective | Candidate | — | Graph visualization software | | 30 | Conversation Taxonomy | conversation-taxonomy | Candidate | — | | | 31 | Local Newspaper in FedWiki | local-newspaper-fedwiki | Candidate | — | Civic journalism practice in FedWiki | | 32 | *(open)* | — | — | — | Registry continues to grow | --- ## Observations ### Skill clusters Several skills naturally group into learning pathways: **Systems Dynamics Pathway** CLD → Stock Flow Modeling → System Dynamics Modeling → Vester's Sensitivity Modeling **Organizational Diagnosis Pathway** Sofi-VSM → VSM → EIP Stage Sketching → Six Context Questions **Sense-Making Pathway** Cynefin → DSRP → Social Action Tetrahedron → Social System Tetrahedron **Mapping Pathway** Process Mapping → Linkage Mapping → Value Stream Mapping → Story Mapping → Arrows Diagram **FedWiki Civic Practice Pathway** FedWiki → Local Newspaper in FedWiki → Conversation Taxonomy → Pattern Writing **Formal Modeling Pathway** OPM/OPCloud → Model-based Systems Engineering → Bayesian Belief Modeling ### Special cases **Vester's Sensitivity Modeling** is noted as nine interacting skills bundled with one piece of software. This may warrant a credential cluster — a meta-credential that bundles multiple SODOTO contracts, or a prerequisite chain where each of the nine skills is certified separately before the software practice credential is issued. **FedWiki** as a SODOTO skill is a meta-skill — the platform through which all other skills are documented and shared. Teaching FedWiki is teaching the infrastructure of the whole system. **Sofi-VSM** and **VSM** may be paired credentials with shared gate events — or Sofi-VSM may require VSM as a prerequisite. --- ## Next Steps 1. Identify first mentor for EIP Stage Sketching to activate skill #6 2. Discuss credential cluster design for Vester's Sensitivity Modeling 3. Map prerequisite relationships between skills for pathway design 4. Add skill descriptions and learning objectives for each entry