Categories
Social System Mapping with sumApp and Kumu
Social System Mapping - A new approach to mapping, pioneered by Greater than the Sum, using our data-gathering tool sumApp and the Kumu.io platform. This is where we get started and find our way around.Visionaries/Envisioning: SSM for the Visionary Hat
Everything that happens BEFORE you start setting up sumApp: - How to catalyze a new mapping project. - How to engage the community from the beginning. - How to start to plan the map. Discussions related to purpose, buy-in, starting.Technicians/Mapping: SSM for the Technology Hat
Everything about getting the vision into sumApp and then into Kumu, so the SenseMakers can make use of the map: - Managing sumApp - Managing Kumu - Dealing with data - Visualizing data This is where we talk about the technology.SenseMakers/Sensemaking: SSM for the SenseMakers
Related to what to do with the map once it's done: - Learning - teaching others to 'read' the map. - Using systems-thinking and action-inquiry to mine the map. - Embedding the map into the everyday. Discussions about 'completed' maps.In the News
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Recent Topics
DeepDive - Session Recording - 3/21/22 - Realizing the adaptive action cycle in social system mapping
Thank you to Jim Best and Sara Raffo for co-facilitating this visual DeepDive. In this section we share a diagram and some shifting images that we hope allow us to visually unpack and describe adaptive action cycles in the context of social system mapping.OnRamp - Session Recording - 3/14/22 - Christine Capra shares our Community of Practice Map
In this OnRamp session Christine took us on a walk through of our own Community of Practice map. She discusses how we've handled the Dual Elements feature, and shared with the community how we're iterating and thinking about our map. This OnRamp sessionSenseMaking - Session Recording - 3/7/22 - Human Systems Dynamics: Adaptive Action in Social System Mapping
Thank you again to Lisa Negstad who joined Christine to co-facilitate this SenseMaking session on using Adaptive Action cycles with Social System Mapping. This SenseMaking session gives an overview of what Adaptive Action cycles are, examples of whatOnRamp - Session Recording - 2/14/22 - Glenn Page shares the Transformations Systems Mapping & Analysis Working Group Map
Thank you to Glenn Page who shared the lively and generative Transformations Systems Mapping & Analysis Working Group Map with the community. This OnRamp recording includes the post-session casual discussion due to the value and depth of the questionsSenseMaking - Session Recording - 2/7/22 - Human Systems Dynamics, Container, Difference, Exchange model
In this SenseMaking session we explore the Human Systems Dynamics model Container, Difference, Exchange and what it helps us see when applied to a network we are involved in. The session recording is below. Links shared in the chat discussion: Human SystemsDeepDive - Session Recording - 1/17/22 - Jim Best co-facilitates Using Theories of Change with a Social System Map
Thank you to Jim Best who joined us to co-facilitate a DeepDive on using Theories of Change with a Social System Map and how we might be able to use this framework to think about the theories of change we want to bring to the networks we support. ThisOnRamp - Session Recording - 1/10/22 - Osnat Lustig shares the Retirement Coaches Association Members map
Thank you to Osnat Lustig for sharing her Retirement Coaches Association Members map with the community. You may find the session recording below. Links shared in this session: Six Conversations InvitationSenseMaking - Session Recording - 1/3/22 - Human Systems Dynamics: Using the Adaptive Action Cycle in Complex Adaptive Systems
In this SenseMaking session we consider the Human Systems Dynamics Adaptive Action Cycle and how we can use this tool to make small, tangible actions that can begin to create change in a system when needed. Links shared in this discussion: MentimeterDeepDive - Session Recording - 11/17/21 - Using 'ORG' elements in OUR Community of Practice maps
In this DeepDive discussion we explored the ways some of us have been using the 'organizational' elements (from our 'Dual Elements' function) based on our own latest experience in our own Community of Practice map. Links shared in this discussion: JoinOnRamp - Session Recording - 11/8/21 - Ben Roberts' shares Funding Flows Dojo map
In this Social System Mapping Community of Practice OnRamp Ben Roberts' shares a funding flow dojo map that he recently worked on to show another layer of how we can use social system mapping to demonstrate the flow of money in a network. Links sharedSenseMaking - Session Recording - 11/1/21 - Human Systems Dynamics: Landscape Diagram to SenseMake our Networks
In this SenseMaking session, Lisa Negstad joins us to co-facilitate an exploration of the Human Systems Dynamics Landscape Diagram and how we can apply it to Social System Mapping to SenseMake different aspects of our networks. Links shared in this session:DeepDive - Session Recording - 10/18/21 - Offers and Needs Market hosted by Naryan Wong
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this intimate and generative offers and needs market DeepDive session. Naryan Wong helped guide us through an offers and needs market with an intention of generating an enhanced sense of an economy of exchangesSenseMaking - Session Recording - 10/4/21 - Iceberg Model, Complex Adaptive Systems, and Pattern Spotters
In this SenseMaking session we take an overview of the purpose of Social System Mapping and dive into a digestible overview of the Iceberg Model, Complex Adaptive Systems, and Pattern Spotters. Our live session broke out into small group to see whichDefine Connections vs Define Linkage Options (Tier IV)
Newbie question - what is the difference between Define Connections Options and Define Linkage Options setting? I'd like to know how and where I can specify questions/relationship options related to person to person, org to org, and person to org connectionsDeepDive - Session Recording - 9/20/21 - Shifting Paradigms with Social System Mapping
Thank you to Sarah Shanahan for joining us for this moth's DeepDive. We took a DeepDive into and discussed using a Social System Map to help shift paradigms. What paradigms are we talking about? And how might mapping help with that? Links shared in theOnRamp - Session Recording - 9/13/21 - Louise Clark shares the COVID-19 Response for Equity (CORE) and FCDO COVID Collective maps
Thank you to Louise Clark for sharing the COVID-19 Response for Equity (CORE) and FCDO COVID Collective maps with us for this month's OnRamp! We look forward to hearing from you as your projects evolve in time. Links shared in this OnRamp session: COVIDOnRamp - Session Recording - 8/9/21 - Drew Mackie shares the Octopus Community Network and Collaborators' Map
A big thank you to Drew Mackie for sharing the Octopus Community Network in Islington, London. This social system map looks at collaborations between Octopus members and other organisations with a particular interest in emergency food provision duringSenseMaking - Session Recording - 8/2/21 - Using Human Systems Dynamics CDE Model and Difference Matrix with Social System Maps
Thank you to community member Lisa Negstad and fellow HSD practitioner for joining in co-facilitating this SenseMaking session. In this SenseMaking session we discuss Human Systems Dynamics CDE (containers, difference, exchanges) Model as well as theDeepDive - Session Recording - 7/19/21 - Mapper Clinic with Brian Dowling
Thank you to Brian Dowling for joining us for this Mapper Clinic DeepDive. For this Mapper Clinic we heard from Brian Dowling about his mapping context and challenges. The rest of us generated a wealth of questions through a rapid-inquiry process to helpOnRamp - Session Recording - 7/12/21 - Ben Roberts shares the Alaska Humanities Forum Community map
Thank you to Ben Roberts for sharing the Alaska Humanities Forum Community map with us for this month's OnRamp! This session recording took a more conversational approach to a Social System Map walk through. Links shared in this chat discussion: AlaskaSenseMaking - Session Recording - 7/5/21 - CDE Model with Social System Maps
In this SenseMaking session we consider the cognitive challenge of complexity overwhelm and how we can deal with it. We review the Human Systems Dynamics CDE model, introduce the Difference Matrix, and discuss how these two models apply to our networksTechTalk - Session Recording - 6/28/21 - Open Discussion
In this more casual and conversational TechTalk we discuss broadly and specifically about the importance of what social system mapping can help us see in our working initiatives and why it is an important and emerging model of visual mapping. Links sharedJune Deep Dive - Session Recording - 6/21/21 - Exploring Beyond the Network Horizon
In this DeepDive we took a more conversational, exploratory approach to digging into and thinking about the 'Network Horizon'. If you missed this session, you can view the recording below. It may help you generate some thoughts and questions in your ownOnRamp - Session Recording - 6/14/21 - Lisa Negstad shares the Human Systems Dynamics map
Thank you to Lisa Negstad for sharing the Human Systems Dynamics map with us for this OnRamp session! Links shared in this session recording: Human Systems Dynamics InstituteSenseMaking - Session Recording - 6/7/21 - Inaugural Session
Our inaugural Community of Practice SenseMaking session! In this sense making session we had a lively and engaged group looking at our own Community of Practice map to start making sense of one of our biggest tension points, how to move from a hub andTech Talk - Session Recording - 5/24/21 - New Feature: 'Send me my link' form
In this short TechTalk video we introduce a little feature that will save you loads of time. If you are the owner of a sumApp account and have map members who can not find their map link, the 'Send me my link' form will come to the rescue.Deep Dive - Session Recording - 5/18/21 - Mapping Funding Flows
Thank you to Jim Best and Rebecca Wells for co-facilitating this DeepDive into mapping funding flows carrying on our conversation from April. If you are interested in mapping in greater detail the funding happening in your network we welcome you to watchOnRamp - Session Recording - 5/10/21 - Mary Roscoe and Ryan Mottau share the Children & Nature Network Summit map
Thank you again to Mary Roscoe and Ryan Mottau for sharing their Children & Nature Network Summit map with us! The session recording is live below. Links shared in this session: Children in Nature Collaborative MIG Children & Nature Network Summit mapTechTalk - Session Recording - 4/26/21 - Introducing the new CSS Editor
In this TechTalk we introduce the new CSS Editor for sumApp which enables you to change colors and fonts in the member view (available in Tiers III & IV). Links shared in chat discussion: sumApp themes channel in our Slack community Links to view differentDeepDive - Session Recording - 4/19/21 - Brainstorming together - Vizualising Funding Flows
Thank you to our co-facilitator Sarah Shanahan for helping to guide this abundant conversation. Many of us have thought about using Social System Mapping to visualize funding flows in a network. But as far as we know, no-one has actually done that yet.OnRamp - Session Recording - 4/12/21 - David Ehrlichman shares his Map
Thank you to our community member, David Ehrlichman for sharing his map during our April OnRamp!TechTalk - Session Recording - 3/22/21 - Transitioning into the New Survey Interface
In this morning's session Christine explained why we have to go back to the drawing board and start from square one with the much anticipated survey upgrade. Which means it will still be several months before we have a new survey tool and it won't lookDeepDive - Session Recording - 3/15/21 - Survey Development for Social System Mapping
In this Community of Practice DeepDive we talk about how we can develop surveys for our Social System Maps to gain the most insight and catalyze the greatest potential for self-organizing possible. Links shared in this DeepDive Discussion: Greather thanOnRamp - Session Recording - 3/8/21 - Circlewise Network Map
Thank you to our community member, Laura Kaestele for sharing the Circlewise Network map. Please view the session recording below.TechTalk - Session Recording - 2.22.21 - New Graph Commons Data Output
In this TechTalk we take a look at Graph Commons, demonstrate how to use the new sumApp Graph Commons data output, and showed how to display both Kumu and Graph Commons maps in sumApp in sumApp. Our guest Drew Mackie shares the various contexts and purposesDeepDive Discussion - Session Recording - 2/15/21 - Applying HSD Difference Matrix to Social System Mapping
Thank you to Lisa Negstad for co-facilitating for this DeepDive discussion. In this video, we use applying the Human Systems Dynamics Difference Matrix to Social System Mapping to deep dive into what we can observe and begin to act on in our own CommunityOnRamp - Session Recording - 2/8/21 - Community of Practice Map
Christine shares the ever growing Community of Practice map in this OnRamp session. This session recording shares some of the basics of the sumApp survey interface along with what a map looks like on the user end after some map members and connections1/25/21 TechTalk - Session Recording - Previewing New sumApp Survey Functionality
Thank you to those who continue to show up and contribute to this growing community! In this TechTalk we preview new sumApp survey functionality that is on the horizon!1/18/21 - DeepDive Discussion - Using an emerging map as a 'clinic' for the mapping community
A big thank you to Christy Gabbard and Sonia Keiner of Local Concepts. For this DeepDive discussion, we introduced a 'clinic' concept exploring approaches for mapping an emerging network with multiple potential entry-points and scales/layers. Links shared1/11/21 - Session Recording - OnRamp - RE-AMP Network map
A huge thank you to Sarah Shanahan for a thought-provoking OnRamp session! In this OnRamp Sarah shares the RE-AMP Network Map. For those new to mapping and those who have seen their fair share of maps, this was a valuable look at incorporating the mappingNext Page
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TechTalk - Session Recording - 3/22/21 - Transitioning into the New Survey Interface
In this morning's session Christine explained why we have to go back to the drawing board and start from square one with the much anticipated survey upgrade. Which means it will still be several months before we have a new survey tool and it won't look10/26/20 - Session Recording - TechTalk - Using Liberating Structures with map-hat wearers to connect and share ideas
Thank you to everyone who joined for this tech talk session. We are so appreciative that this Community of Practice is one that is willing to engage and get hands-on. This Tech Talk session introduces using Miro Boards with the group if you are additionally7/27/2020 - Session Recording - Tech Talk - Various approaches to incorporating people and organizations in a map
This Community of Practice Tech Talk video explores the new Dual Elements feature in sumApp as it solves a bunch of problems related to mapping people AND organizations/networks/initiatives. What if you don't need all that robustness? Or what if you don't have the budget for sumApp's 2 Tier IV projects? We'll discuss the possible work-arounds and trade-offs to consider if you can't justify using Dual Elements. Links that were shared in this video/chat discussion: Approaches to Mapping People ANDWhat is this forum for?
Use this forum to ask questions, initiate discussions, and offer suggestions about DEALING WITH DATA. sumApp does everything it can to help get your data cleaned up & structured so that it works well with Kumu. But even so, data gets messy, and the way data flows from one context to another sometimes demands thought. If you're stuck or confused or just think it could be handled better - let's talk about that here!6/17/19 Session Recording - Walk Through Several Social System Maps & sumApp Set-Up
Here's a link to the transcript
Sticky Posts
The Envisioning Forum: For the 'Envisioning' Phase of Mapping and Topics from the 'Visionary' Perspective
Relating to everything that has to happen to get a project underway - before there is something meaningful to look at. If a map doesn't yet exist for a specific group, and you want the group to make one - you're envisioning. You wear the 'Visionary Hat'. Your imagination is engaged with what could exist, but you can't make it happen on your own - because Social System Mapping is an inherently collaborative process. Therefore you need to get others on board - and we have some ideas that will helpWhat Deep Dive Conversations Topics Would You Like Us To Discuss?
Hi Everyone, Please let us know what topics you'd like to discuss during our Deep Dive sessions.What are the Social System Mapping Best Practices that We're Learning From Our OnRamp Sessions
Hey folks, In the after-half-hour this past Monday, Seth Horowitz suggested we start tracking what we're learning as best practices that are emergent learnings from maps we're sharing. I proposed that we crowd-source that list using a post in our online Community - so here it is. What principles are you learning from our OnRamp sessions and from your own mapping practice that you would suggest we consider 'best practices'.What Connection Options Have You Used And How Did You Choose Them?
Mappers, Defining connection options in sumApp probably requires the least amount of text needed in a sumApp set-up, but it seems to require the most thought. We could all learn from one another's thoughts on the subject. If you have a few minutes, I'd love for you to: If nothing else - share the connection options you've used in any of your maps (even if they're similar to others), If you're willing to expand a little - the process you used to decide, the factors that guided the decision,Hey! How do I engage with the community?
You can only submit tickets and comment in the community if you're logged into the knowledge base platform at help.sum-app.net. If you're finding this knowledge base & community from inside of your sumApp account - you can't interact from there (yet!). You need to go log into help.sum-app.net. Sorry about the hassle! We need to get some annoying validation functions set up before you can engage from inside of sumApp itself :-)