what-when-how
In Depth Tutorials and Information
individual actors within each of the major actor groups and show the links between
them. Figure 2.4 illustrates the tasks described in Step 3 for a transportation system
example. It shows the various subsystems selected, the institutional sphere mapped
onto a plane for convenience, with the subsystems and sphere populated with com-
ponents and actors, respectively (Mostashari and Sussman, 2009).
2.2.3.5.1.4 CLIOS Step 4A: Describe Components in the Physical Domain
and Actors on the Institutional Sphere —
Componentsofthephysicaldomain:
Up to this point, the components have been considered as generic. In this step we
more carefully characterize the nature of the individual components. Within the
physical domain, we consider three basic types of components.
Regularcomponents
(or from now on, simply “components” and indicated by circles) are usually the
most common in the subsystem diagrams within the physical domain.
PolicyLevers
(indicated by rectangles) are components within the physical domain that are most
directly controlled or influenced by decisions taken by the actors—often institu-
tions and organizations—on the institutional sphere.
CommonDrivers
(indicated
by diamonds) are components that are shared across multiple and possibly all sub-
systems of the physical domain (Mostashari and Sussman, 2009).
In Figure 2.5 we show three shapes used for different CLIOS system compo-
nents. External factors are indicated by shading, rather than by shape, and can still
be either a component or a common driver.
Actors on the institutional sphere:
In parallel to describing the components in
the physical domain, we also describe the actors on the institutional sphere. In
describing the actors, we can identify important characteristics, such as their power
or mandate over different parts of the physical subsystems, their interests in the
subsystems, their expertise and resources, and their positions with regard to differ-
ent potential strategic alternatives. Much of this information can be derived from
the actor's formal mandate, as well as interviews and other information sources that
shed light on the described characteristics.
2.2.3.5.1.5 CLIOS Step 4B: Describe Links —
As the components are char-
acterized and divided into different types, we also, in parallel, need to characterize
the nature of the several kinds of links. Link notation needs to be consistent; if
they represent different things, one should use different diagrammatic components
(Flood and Carson, 1993). In the diagrams used in the CLIOS system representa-
tion, these links will be largely qualitative. Generally, the links should indicate
Component
Policy
Common
External
Figure2.5
CLIOSsystemdiagramcomponentshapes.
