Matrix of Influence
Suitable for Step 8
Duration
30 to 40 minutes
Material Needed
Systems diagram
Group size
3-5
Objective
To identify the influence of one element (factors/ leverage points) over others.
Description
- Ask learners to select important elements from their systems diagram which they feel have influence over other elements and try to identify leverage points. These elements are to be recorded in the Matrix in the form of keywords. Each element corresponds to a letter in the matrix (see the diagram). The sequence or placement is not important.
- To identify the influence of the element over others, the group always ask the same question:
Is there a direct influence of factor A on factor B?
If the answer is “No” enter a “0” in the corresponding field.
If the answer is “Yes”, go to the next question:
Is this influence rather intense, medium, or weak?
Enter 3, 2, or 1 in the corresponding field respectively (3 = intense; 2 = medium; 1 = weak).
- Learners should proceed from the first row and work their way down, that is: Influence of A over B, A over C, A over D, and so on.
For the analysis of the influence, we always start from the current state and not from a future situation, desired or imaginary. We always consider the factor in a “neutral” way without valuing.
The question of “direct” influence is a matter left to the discretion of the learners. In many situations it does not generate differences of opinion and in other situations it does. This leads to a process of debate in search of more accurate assessment of the system model.
- After completing the corresponding fields of the Influence Matrix, learners should add numbers in the vertical and horizontal lines, and they will obtain for each factor the following:
- The Active Sum (SA): This indicates the intensity of the factor´s influence on the global system in relation to the others.
- The Passive Sum (SP): Indicates the intensity (relative) that the other factors have over this factor.
| Example of an influence matrix | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Influence on | A | B | C | D | E | F | ∑SA |
| Influence of | |||||||
| A. Type of calories in a potato chips package3 | X | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| B. Health issues | 3 | X | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| C. Increase of consumption | 3 | 3 | X | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| D. Marketing | 1 | 2 | 3 | X | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| E. Increase in demand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | X | 3 | 11 |
| F. Land resources | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | X | 11 |
| ∑SP | 9 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 13 | X |
| SAxSP | 99 | 156 | 210 | 120 | 165 | 143 | |
Once the matrix contains all the information, the learners may create a visualization of the data to represent the influences among elements.
Each group must select the factor that shows the highest result of SA and SP. The element that has the greatest number of incoming and outgoing connections should be in the centre of the drawing.
Next, starting from this factor, integrate all the streams of effect with intensity “3” (using thick arrows or specific colour) in the visualization. Then, they have to register the factors with medium and weak effects with arrows of a proportionate thickness (or in other colours). The objective is to maintain the overview in all its complexity.
The Effects Structure is a representation that shows us the direction and intensity of how an element affects other elements.
With the help of the Effects Structure, it is possible to clarify how the system works. Starting from a certain factor, we can follow the diffusion of its effect on the system.
