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understanding impact networks |
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Structure of a cross-impact matrix
The construction of a CIB cross-impact matrix will be described with the help of a simple example. The example describes a fictitious country "Somewhereland" with six interdependent factors in the fields of policy, economy, and society. The steps of the procedure are as follows:
| 1) Compile a list of the most relevant system factors ("descriptors"). | In our example the list of descriptors contains the factors: A. Government B. Foreign policy C. Economy D. Distribution of wealth E. Social cohesion F. Social values This example represents a rather small CIB matrix. Usually a CIB analysis comprises 10-20 descriptors (and occasionally more). |
| 2) Define a set of qualitative states which characterize the possible states of the descriptors. (The number of states may differ from descriptor to descriptor) |
Considering the fictitious country "Somewhereland" the following list of descriptor states may be used as an example: A. Government: A1 "Patriots party" A2 "Prosperity party" A3 "Social party" B. Foreign policy: B1 Cooperation B2 Rivalry B3 Conflict C. Economy: C1 Shrinking C2 Stagnant C3 Dynamic D. Distribution of wealth: D1 Balanced D2 Strong contrasts E. Social cohesion: E1 Social peace E2 Tensions E3 Riots F. Social values: F1 Meritocratic F2 Solidarity F3 Family |
| 3) Make a judgement about the impact of state x of descriptor X on state y of descriptor Y, based on literature reviews, expert interviews, or other appropriate investigations. Only direct influences must be accounted for these judgements. The resulting indirect influences will be automatically constructed by the CIB algorithm. |
Express your judgement in a qualitative scale as follows: -3: strongly restricting influence -2: moderately restricting influence -1: weakly restricting influence 0: no influence +1: weakly promoting influence +2: moderately promoting influence +3: strongly promoting influence. In our example we may conclude that the occurence of riots will strongly motivate many citizens of Somewhereland to retreat mentally into their closer social references: the family. Therefore, +3 is chosen for the cross-impact of the state "E3 Social cohesion: Riots" on the state "F3 Social values: Family". |
This procedure results in a cross-impact matrix. Fig. 2 shows the matrix for our example. The data of the matrix don't attempt to express a real situation and should be understood as an example.
>> Recognizing the inconsistencies of a scenario
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| Archive |
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