Bob Williams’ workbook, System Diagrams: A Practical Guide, serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding how visual tools can clarify and manage complex systems. The text differentiates between constructed diagrams, which are built from scratch to map unique situations, and generic diagrams like the Viable System Model or Cynefin, which apply established frameworks to specific problems. Williams emphasizes that these illustrations are essential for making sense of intricate relationships and communicating those insights effectively within group settings. Accompanying materials from a European Evaluation Society conference further highlight the practical application of these systemic approaches for professional evaluators navigating uncertainty. By moving beyond linear descriptions, these methods allow practitioners to visualize boundaries, influence, and causality in a single, cohesive view. Ultimately, the sources advocate for participatory diagramming as a way to challenge biases and improve organizational decision-making.
Sources
• THE IDEA AND PRACTICE OF SYSTEMS THINKING AND THEIR RELEVANCE FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT (Peter Morgan, European Centre for Development Policy Management, 2005). Link: www.capacity.org[1],[2]. • Wicked Solutions: A Systems Approach to Complex Problems (Bob Williams and Sjon van ’t Hof, 2014). ISBN: 978-0-473-28735-1. Link: www.gumroad.com/l/wicked[3]. • SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (Bob Williams, modified December 2005). Link: http://users.actrix.co.nz/bobwill/Resources/ssm.doc[4],[5],[6]. • Setting Boundaries in Evaluation: The role of Critical Systems Heuristics (Bob Williams, CECAN Webinar, October 2023). Link: www.cecan.ac.uk[7]. • Capacity.org Issue 37: Understanding context (September 2009). ISSN: 1571-7496. Link: www.capacity.org[8],[9]. • Systems thinking and evaluation (Richard Hummelbrunner, Evaluation journal, 2011). DOI: 10.1177/1356389011421935. Link: http://evi.sagepub.com/content/17/4/395[10],[11]. • Learning, Systems Concepts and Values in Evaluation: Proposal for an Exploratory Framework to Improve Coherence (Richard Hummelbrunner, IDS Bulletin Vol. 46 No. 1, 2015). Link: www.ids.ac.uk[12]. • Conceptos de sistemas en el diseño de una evaluación (Bob Williams, ECOSAD, 2017). ISBN: 978-612-45221-0-9. Link: http://ecosad.org[13],[14]. • Systems thinking for evaluation (Gerald Midgley, 2007). Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285020906[15]. • Systems thinking for enhancing evaluation practice (Richard Hummelbrunner & Martin Reynolds, 9th EES International Conference Workshop Outline, 2010). Link: www.ees2010prague.org[16],[17]. • Wicked Solutions: A Systems Approach to Complex Problems - Second Edition (Bob Williams and Sjon van ’t Hof, 2016). ISBN: 978-1-326-51229-3. Link: http://bit.ly/1SVoOH3[18],[19]. • SYSTEMS CONCEPTS IN EVALUATION: AN EXPERT ANTHOLOGY (Editors: Bob Williams and Iraj Imam, American Evaluation Association, 2006). ISBN: 978-0-918528-22-3. Link: http://www.amazon.com[20],[21]. • Thinking systemically: Systems concepts and methods (Bob Williams, Capacity.org, 2009). Link: www.capacity.org[22].
References
[1] 118-The idea and practice of systems thinking and their rele.pdf [2] 118-The idea and practice of systems thinking and their rele.pdf [3] 2015 - Wicked solutions a systems approach to complex problems - williams.pdf [4] Bob Williams - SSM.pdf [5] Bob Williams - SSM.pdf [6] Soft Systems Methodology.pdf [7] Bob Williams - Setting Boundaries in Evaluation.pdf [8] CAP0901_37_ENG_DEF_LR Small.pdf [9] CAP0901_37_ENG_DEF_LR Small.pdf [10] Evaluation-2011-Hummelbrunner-395-403.pdf [11] Evaluation-2011-Hummelbrunner-395-403.pdf [12] Hummelbrunner - Learning systems concepts and values in evaluation.pdf [13] Libro-Bob-Williams.pdf [14] Libro-Bob-Williams.pdf [15] Systems thinking for evaluation.pdf [16] W507_Systems thinking for enhanc.pdf [17] W507_Systems thinking for enhanc.pdf [18] [Book] Bob Williams - Wicked Solutions - Second Edition.pdf [19] [Book] Bob Williams - Wicked Solutions - Second Edition.pdf [20] [Book] Williams - Systems concepts in evaluation.pdf [21] [Book] Williams - Systems concepts in evaluation.pdf [22] thinking systemically.pdf