With Christine Capra, 22 Jan 2026
Summary
This session looked at ‘Social System Mapping’ as a way of synthesising social network analysis, asset mapping, and system mapping. The focus was visual representations of a network to accelerate relational and cognitive shifts within a community.
Key Learnings
- The “Vortex” Theory of Change: Mapping is not a one-time product but a recurring cycle of “acting, mapping, and reflecting.” This process creates a converging momentum that shifts both how we relate to each other and how we understand complex systems.
- The Two Essential Shifts:
1. Relational Shift: Moving from a “separate self” to an “interdependent self” by fostering trust and belonging.
2. Cognitive Shift: Moving from “linear/mechanistic thinking” to “complexity thinking,” becoming wise agents of systemic change.
- The Four “Character Carriers”: For a map to become a living support tool, four distinct perspectives are needed:
1. Visionary: Sees the potential for a map and makes it happen.
2. Technician: Handles the data gathering and visualization (using tools like sumApp and Kumu).
3. Sensemaker: Facilitates groups to navigate the complexity of the map and see emergent patterns.
4. Storyteller: Creates a “through-line” to explain *why* the network is mapping and what is being learned.
- Visual vs. Textual Learning: Visual maps enter the mind through different pathways than linear text, fostering a more “embodied” understanding of a community’s web of relationships.
- Mapping “Energy”: While maps show dots and lines, they can reflect “energy” by visualizing where people cluster, where they collaborate, or where “appreciations” are densely concentrated.
Key Actions
- Move Beyond the “Directory” Phase: Don’t just use a map as a list of people. Use it to find “islands of coherence” and clusters of shared interest that can be leveraged for action.
- Start Simple and Layer Complexity: Begin mapping individuals and their basic connections. Only add organizational layers or complex resource mapping once the community feels comfortable with the basic tool.
- Engage in “Adaptive Action”: Use the “What? So what? Now what?” cycle to assess map data and take small, experimental steps to strengthen the network.
- Use the Map as an “Oracle”: Use it for interpersonal inquiry—randomly exploring profiles to spark unexpected connections and “quantum entanglement” between members.
- Develop “Discerning” Skills: Help network members move past the initial “overwhelm” of a map by teaching them to filter out noise and focus on the specific signals (questions) they need to answer.
—–
References
Speaker:
Christine Capra: Co-founder of *Greater Than the Sum* and lead developer of the Social System Mapping methodology.
Denise Challenger & Ben Roberts: Leads of the Weaving Lab mapping team.
Software & Technology:
SumApp: A tool for gathering complex relational data for networks.
Kumu: A data visualization platform used to render the final interactive map.
Methodologies & Frameworks:
The Vortex: A theory of transformation for social system mapping.
SNA (Social Network Analysis): The technical foundation of network mapping.
Adaptive Action Cycle: (Human Systems Dynamics) “What? So what? Now what?”
Knowledge Base Categories: 1) Weaving Methods 2) Decolonisation, Equity & Inclusion
