A NaviMap is a form of Causal Loop Diagram. This section explains how to read a NaviMap.

The most important features of a NaviMap are the loops; They are reinforcing, or counterbalancing. Exhibit 1 shows a reinforcing loop between Box 1, the principal deposited in a bank account and Box 2, the interest earned over time from the deposit.

Why is this a reinforcing loop? Because interest earned on the principal enlarges the base from which more interest earnings can be got by re-investing earlier earned interest. $1000 deposited earning 10% per annum will provide $1100 at the end of year 1. If no money is withdrawn, then the amount of money in the account after year 2 would be ($1100x1.1 = $1210), and the amount of money in that account gets larger over time.

Look at Exhibit 1 again. This time, we focus on Box 3 and Box 1. As Box 1 grows, i.e., more money in the account would suggest that more money is availabe to be withdrawn (box 3). With a solid arrow from Box 1 to Box 3, this is a promotion relationship.

Now let's look at the relationship from Box 3 to Box 1. The more money is taken out (box 3), the less remains (box 1). We plot a dashed arrow from Box 3 to Box 1 given that this is a demoting relationship. The two-arrow relationship between Box 1 and Box 3 forms a counterbalancing loop.

To recap, in a NaviMap the objects we are interested in is captured in boxes, which can be promoted or demoted. Solid arrows represent a promoting influence, e.g., More of Box 2 yields more of Box 1. Dashed arrows are a demoting influence, e.g., More of Box 3 led to less of Box 1.

Learn more: NaviMap with NaviThink