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Understanding Root Causes

Four Techniques

Getting Our Head Around Causes

• A participatory way to:

– Sensitize people to the

complexity of issue

– Identifying leverage points for change

– Mapping evolution of a group’s understanding of an issue.

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4 Types of Causal Analysis

Listing – identifying all the causes.

Leveling – looking for root causes.

Linking – exploring dynamic relationships between causes.

Looping – looking for dynamic relationships between causes.

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Listing

Example Description

• Identifying all the underlying cause (and effect) factors underlying the pattern of outcomes you would like to change.

Leveling

Summary Techniques

• Problem Tree

• The Five Whys

• Fishbone Diagrams

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Method: Problem Tree

Method: Core Relationships

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Method: Fishbone

Linking

Explores the reciprocal cause-and-effect relationships between factors.

Techniques

• Causal Dynamics

• Network Mapping

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Method Linking - Step 1: Brainstorm

• Brainstorm 5 to 7 factors that contribute to the pattern of outcomes you are trying to change.

• Write up each factor (1-2 words each) on two stickie notes:

Low Income

Low Income

Step 2: Make a Table

Etc

X

X

X

Etc

X

Low Income

Substance Abuse

Low Income

Racism

Substance Abuse Racism

Incidents of Violent Behaviour

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Step 3: Rate Influence

Etc

X 7 6

5 X 6

6 2 X

Rate Influence of Factors (left to right) from 0 (no influence) to 10 (direct, powerful, and immediate influence)

Low Income

Substance Abuse

Low Income

Racism

Substance Abuse Racism

Incidents of Violent Behaviour

Step 3: Rate Influence on Issue/Pattern

Etc

X 7 6

5 X 6

6 2 X

4 1 5

Low Income

Substance Abuse

Low Income

Racism

Substance Abuse

Racism

Incidents of Violent Behaviour

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Method: Network Mapping

Homicide Rates In Edmonton

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(Causal) Looping

Summary Techniques

• The systems are interconnecting feedback loops, in that cause and effect chains loop back upon themselves. Causal looping shows how systems are composed of non-linear dynamics and chaos.

The Evolution of Gazelles and Cheetahs: The Dynamic Causal Loop

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Womens’ Poverty in Asia: Loop 1

Womens’ Poverty in Asia: Another Loop

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Womens’ Poverty in Asia: More Loops

Womens’ Poverty in Asia: Even More Loops

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Method: Causal Loop Diagram

http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/CausalLoopDiagram.htm

Identify three contexts or initiatives where some type of “using causal analysis would be productive? Why would they be helpful? Identify one context or initiative where they would not be productive. Why would they not be helpful?

• What “aha's” (if any) did you have today?

• What new questions (if any) emerged for you?

• What is one thing you might do differently after today?

Final Reflections in Pairs