Behaviour Over Time

Behaviour Over Time

Behaviour over time graphs are used early in a systemic inquiry process to: gain early clarity into the complex system, inform problem statements about the system, draw out participant’s mental models and identify key determinants influencing the system. They are often used in a group setting where participants generate many graphs on their own, and then share and discuss amongst the group.

The activity focuses on identifying and examining change over time of one variable within the complex system, both historical and future predictions. They are useful for helping participants to consider the longer term dynamic pattern of the variable within the system.

*Note: Behaviour over time graphs are a tool associated with Group Model Building within Systems Dynamic. As such the tool has been widely used and written about. In this facilitation guide we draw from the references notes at the end of this guide.

Accessibility:

This activity requires participants to write or draw on their own

This activity requires ample space to move around a room

This activity requires participants to engage is sensemaking and pattern recognition

This activity requires participants to read written notes on a large wall space

This activity requires participants to engage is social learning

Output: The output from the process produces a large number of hand drawn behaviour over time graphs which can be captured with pictures and then digitally through tools such as MIRO. Additionally, key themes will be identified which can be typed up. You may also wish to record and transcribe the social learning process to document key insights. Finally, outputs from this activity are often drawn into a causal loop diagram, which can be created in Kumu.org or any other number of CLD software.

This is a Tool: a very small, contained, activity, which only has 1-2 steps. You'll apply this exactly the same way each time you use it.

Investment: low cost, low resources, medium skill, medium time

Outcomes

• Identify elements of a system that are changing over time
• Gain early clarity into the complex system
• Inform problem statements about the system and their underlying causes
• Draw out participant’s mental models
• Surfaces and tests assumptions about the systems through the groups perspective

When and Why Do I Use This

Gain clarity - this tool can be used to gain early insight into elements of a system, participants mental models of the systems, as well as patterns

Dynamics - Through this process participants identify several components of a system, and look for patterns within that component over time, which helps to signal it’s influence within the system

Relationships - During group dialogue, participants consider how to group system components together under a shared theme which begins to establish relationships between parts in the system.