Map

Maps can help you quickly communicate a lot of information quickly and intuitively. A pictures says a thousand words etc..

Maps are not a perfect representation of a thing. They're an abstraction that communicates the main ideas. This can make it easier for your audience to quickly understand and remember what's going on. It can also provide context around how your ideas fit in with the rest of the system.

Maps don't need to be fancy. They just need to be clear. They should only include the most important things. This often includes the components of the system as well as the relationships between them. This might look like a simple sketch, stakeholder map, flow chart, functional block diagram, causal loop diagram, stock and flow diagram, or even interactive media. Sometimes it is helpful to have different diagram/mapping tools to help you understand various aspects of your system - don't try to fit everything onto one map! The important thing is to clearly illustrate the ideas you want to communicate.

Concepts

Would be nice if this part had pictures of the various types of maps/diagrams.

Draw A Picture

As Polya says in How To Solve It, draw a picture! Simply sketching out your idea with pen and paper can help you understand what you know and you need to discover.

Map != Territory

The map is not the territory and the menu is not the meal. They're representations of things, but they are not the things themselves.

Drawing a map or diagram of your question and potential solution can help refine your thinking. It can also make it easier to convey complex information quickly.

In order to say a lot with a little you have to choose what to include and what to leave out. This is OK as long as you're clear about what you left out and why. Then the reader can better understand your thinking and what the map is trying to convey.

What did you choose to include in your model and why? What did you leave out and why?

Flow chart

A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents a workflow or process. A flowchart can also be defined as a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm, a step-by-step approach to solving a task.

Functional diagram

In systems engineering, software engineering, and computer science, a functional model is a structured representation of the functions (activities, actions, processes, operations) within the modeled system or subject area.

Causal loop

A causal loop diagram (CLD) is a causal diagram that aids in visualizing how different variables in a system are interrelated.

Stock and flow

A stock and flow diagram shows the relationship between stocks (measurement of units) and flows (measurement of time). Essentially, how units change over time based on system dynamics.

Tools

Diagrams.net

Diagrams.net is a free and open source web based diagramming program.

LucidChart

LucidChart is like draw.io, but proprietary and requires a subscription.

Figma

Figma is design software that also lets you create diagrams.

Miro

Miro is visual brainstorming software that can create diagrams and pretty pictures.

Notes

MOTIVATION
- a picture says a thousand words
- highlight main ideas
- keep it simple

CONCEPTS
- draw a picture
- map != territory

TOOLS
- comic
- flow chart
- causal loop
- stock and flow
- functional