Based on the sources, here is a Mermaid process chart that synthesizes the inquiry process. It guides you from the meta-cognitive “Epistemological” phase through Ontology, Diagnosis, and Values, before splitting into Strategic pathways based on whether the system is “Tame” (Ordered) or “Wicked” (Complex).
graph TD Start((Start Inquiry)) --> Ph1_Epistemology subgraph Ph1 [Phase 1: Epistemology & Framing] direction TB Ph1_Epistemology[<b>The Epistemic Question</b><br/>How does our observation frame reality?] Q_Epist1["Where is the 'Cut' between observer & observed?"] Q_Epist2["Am I part of the universe (2nd Order)<br/>or apart from it (1st Order)?"] Ph1_Epistemology --> Q_Epist1 --> Q_Epist2 end Q_Epist2 --> Ph2_Ontology subgraph Ph2 [Phase 2: Ontology & Identity] direction TB Ph2_Ontology[<b>The Ontological Question</b><br/>What is the nature of the system?] Q_Ont1{"Is the system<br/>Simple/Mechanical<br/>or Complex/Living?"} Q_Ont1 -- "Mechanical/Closed<br/>(Pleroma/Forces)" --> Domain_Tame[<b>The Ordered Domain</b><br/>Simple or Complicated] Q_Ont1 -- "Living/Open<br/>(Creatura/Information)" --> Domain_Wicked[<b>The Complex Domain</b><br/>Wicked or Chaotic] end Domain_Tame --> Ph3_Diag_Linear Domain_Wicked --> Ph3_Diag_Complex subgraph Ph3 [Phase 3: Diagnosis & Causality] direction TB Ph3_Diag_Linear(<b>Linear Diagnosis</b>) Q_Diag_Lin1["What is the Root Cause?"] Q_Diag_Lin2["What is the weakest link?"] Ph3_Diag_Linear --> Q_Diag_Lin1 --> Q_Diag_Lin2 Ph3_Diag_Complex(<b>Systemic Diagnosis</b>) Q_Diag_Comp1["Why is it not as it ought to be?"] Q_Diag_Comp2["What constraints stop it from<br/>being something else?"] Q_Diag_Comp3["What is the pattern which connects?"] Ph3_Diag_Complex --> Q_Diag_Comp1 --> Q_Diag_Comp2 --> Q_Diag_Comp3 end Q_Diag_Lin2 --> Ph4_Values Q_Diag_Comp3 --> Ph4_Values subgraph Ph4 [Phase 4: Normative & Values] direction TB Ph4_Values[<b>The Normative Question</b><br/>What ought to be the case?] Q_Val1["Who benefits and who suffers? (CATWOE)"] Q_Val2["Does this have 'Quality' or 'Life'?"] Q_Val3["What is the Ideal Final Result?"] Ph4_Values --> Q_Val1 --> Q_Val2 --> Q_Val3 end Q_Val3 --> Decision_Strat{Selection of<br/>Strategy} subgraph Ph5 [Phase 5: Strategy & Intervention] direction TB Decision_Strat -- Ordered/Known --> Strat_Opt[<b>Optimization Strategy</b><br/>'Doing things right'] Strat_Opt --> Q_Act1["Which action should be chosen?"] Q_Act1 --> Q_Act2["How to implement the change?"] Decision_Strat -- Complex/Uncertain --> Strat_Adapt[<b>Adaptive Strategy</b><br/>'Doing the right thing'] Strat_Adapt --> Q_Act3["What if we try X? (Probe-Sense-Respond)"] Q_Act3 --> Q_Act4["Is it safe-to-fail?"] Q_Act5["How can we unfold/generate the solution?"] Strat_Adapt --> Q_Act3 Q_Act3 --> Q_Act4 Q_Act4 --> Q_Act5 end Q_Act2 --> Ph6_Loop Q_Act5 --> Ph6_Loop Ph6_Loop((<b>Loop & Learn</b><br/>Did the system<br/>behavior change?)) Ph6_Loop -.-> Ph1_Epistemology style Start fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style Ph6_Loop fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style Domain_Tame fill:#e1f5fe,stroke:#01579b style Domain_Wicked fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#e65100 style Decision_Strat fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#fbc02d
graph TD Start((Start Inquiry)) --> Ph1_Epistemology subgraph Phase 1: Epistemology & Framing direction TB Ph1_Epistemology[<b>The Epistemic Question</b><br/>How does our observation frame reality?] Q_Epist1["Where is the 'Cut' between observer & observed? [1]"] Q_Epist2["Am I part of the universe (2nd Order)<br/>or apart from it (1st Order)? [2],[3]"] Ph1_Epistemology --> Q_Epist1 --> Q_Epist2 end Q_Epist2 --> Ph2_Ontology subgraph Phase 2: Ontology & Identity direction TB Ph2_Ontology[<b>The Ontological Question</b><br/>What is the nature of the system?] Q_Ont1{"Is the system<br/>Simple/Mechanical<br/>or Complex/Living?"} Q_Ont1 -- "Mechanical/Closed<br/>(Pleroma/Forces)" --> Domain_Tame[<b>The Ordered Domain</b><br/>Simple or Complicated [4]] Q_Ont1 -- "Living/Open<br/>(Creatura/Information)" --> Domain_Wicked[<b>The Complex Domain</b><br/>Wicked or Chaotic [5],[6]] end Domain_Tame --> Ph3_Diag_Linear Domain_Wicked --> Ph3_Diag_Complex subgraph Phase 3: Diagnosis & Causality direction TB Ph3_Diag_Linear(<b>Linear Diagnosis</b>) Q_Diag_Lin1["What is the Root Cause? [7]"] Q_Diag_Lin2["What is the weakest link? [7]"] Ph3_Diag_Linear --> Q_Diag_Lin1 --> Q_Diag_Lin2 Ph3_Diag_Complex(<b>Systemic Diagnosis</b>) Q_Diag_Comp1["Why is it not as it ought to be? [8]"] Q_Diag_Comp2["What constraints stop it from<br/>being something else? [9]"] Q_Diag_Comp3["What is the pattern which connects? [10]"] Ph3_Diag_Complex --> Q_Diag_Comp1 --> Q_Diag_Comp2 --> Q_Diag_Comp3 end Q_Diag_Lin2 --> Ph4_Values Q_Diag_Comp3 --> Ph4_Values subgraph Phase 4: Normative & Values direction TB Ph4_Values[<b>The Normative Question</b><br/>What ought to be the case?] Q_Val1["Who benefits and who suffers? (CATWOE) [11]"] Q_Val2["Does this have 'Quality' or 'Life'? [12],[13]"] Q_Val3["What is the Ideal Final Result? [14]"] Ph4_Values --> Q_Val1 --> Q_Val2 --> Q_Val3 end Q_Val3 --> Decision_Strat{Selection of<br/>Strategy} subgraph Phase 5: Strategy & Intervention direction TB Decision_Strat -- Ordered/Known --> Strat_Opt[<b>Optimization Strategy</b><br/>'Doing things right'] Strat_Opt --> Q_Act1["Which action should be chosen? [15]"] Q_Act1 --> Q_Act2["How to implement the change? [16]"] Decision_Strat -- Complex/Uncertain --> Strat_Adapt[<b>Adaptive Strategy</b><br/>'Doing the right thing'] Strat_Adapt --> Q_Act3["What if we try X? (Probe-Sense-Respond) [17]"] Q_Act3 --> Q_Act4["Is it safe-to-fail? [18]"] Q_Act4 --> Q_Act5["How can we unfold/generate the solution? [19]"] end Q_Act2 --> Ph6_Loop Q_Act5 --> Ph6_Loop Ph6_Loop((<b>Loop & Learn</b><br/>Did the system<br/>behavior change?)) Ph6_Loop -.-> Ph1_Epistemology style Start fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style Ph6_Loop fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style Domain_Tame fill:#e1f5fe,stroke:#01579b style Domain_Wicked fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#e65100 style Decision_Strat fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#fbc02d
Guide to the Process Chart
**Phase 1: Epistemology (The Lens)**Before analyzing the problem, analyzing the observer prevents errors in logic.
• The Cut: We must define where the observer ends and the system begins (Pattee/Rosen)[1].
• Order of Cybernetics: Are we outside looking in (First Order), or inside the system affecting it (Second Order)? (Von Foerster/Bateson)[2],[3].
**Phase 2: Ontology (The Nature)**Classifying the system type prevents the “Error of the Third Kind” (solving the wrong problem precisely)[4].
• Pleroma vs. Creatura: Is this a system of forces (billiard balls) or information (ideas)? (Bateson)[5].
• Cynefin: Is the relationship between cause and effect evident (Simple) or only coherent in retrospect (Complex)? (Snowden)[6],[7].
Phase 3: Diagnosis (The Why)
• Linear Path: If the system is Ordered, use Root Cause Analysis to find the single “weakest link” or constraint (Goldratt)[8].
• Systemic Path: If the system is Complex, use “Negative Explanation” to find constraints[9] or look for the “Pattern which connects” (Bateson)[10]. Do not look for a single cause[11].
**Phase 4: Values (The Ought)**Systems thinking is value-laden. We must define “Good” or “Quality.”
• CATWOE: Who are the victims/beneficiaries? (Checkland)[12].
• Quality/Life: Does the structure possess “Wholeness” or “Life”? (Alexander)[13].
• Ideal Final Result: What is the perfect outcome without costs? (Triz/Altshuller)[14].
Phase 5: Strategy (The How)
• Optimization: In ordered systems, ask “Which?” to select the best option (Boothroyd)[15].
• Adaptation: In complex systems, ask “What if?” (Simulation/Probing)[16]. Move from “Fail-safe” (preventing failure) to “Safe-to-fail” (surviving failure)[17].
References
[1] Relational Biologists.md [2] Gregory Bateson.md [3] Warren Weaver.md [4] Ian Mitroff.md [5] Gregory Bateson.md [6] Dave Snowden.md [7] Dave Snowden.md [8] Theory of Constraints.md [9] James Wilk.md [10] Gregory Bateson.md [11] Horst Rittel.md [12] Peter Checkland.md [13] Christopher Alexander.md [14] Triz.md [15] Hylton Boothroyd.md [16] Dave Snowden.md [17] Dave Snowden.md