[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Systems Scribing: An Emerging Visual Practice

Bird K, Riehl J, 2023, Journal of Systems Thinking 3(1):1-18 — Arts & Humanities

Patterns: [Relationships](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/relationships), [Perspectives](https://dsrpevidence.org/pattern/perspectives)

## In short

Describes systems scribing, which combines live visual note-taking with systems thinking.

## What they found (results)

The practice is demanding — it joins two whole specialties — and still in its infancy, but it sits at a juncture of art and science uniquely poised to let groups literally see themselves in a common picture.

## What they set out to do (purpose)

A paper introducing systems scribing: visually representing ideas in real time as people talk, combined with systems thinking.

## Abstract

Systems scribing is a visual practice that combines scribing—visually representing ideas while people talk—with systems thinking. This is a new, tangible approach to representing dynamics, occurring in the moment and over time, between the scribe and a social body. Learning experiments have been conducted in educational settings, workshops, and client programs. These experiments have demonstrated to the authors that this is a challenging practice because it is difficult to combine two unique specialties without a thorough knowledge of each. Yet the complexity of our times calls for individuals to, literally, see themselves in a common picture. Sitting at a juncture between art and science, systems scribing is uniquely poised to meet this need. The practice is in its infancy, though, and will need to gain traction in use to test its true potential.

These researchers were not testing DSRP. The finding is theirs; the correspondence to DSRP is drawn by this site.

[Source](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.0000034)