START: Observe problematic behavior
│
├─→ Does behavior persist despite multiple interventions?
│   YES → Likely structural issue, continue
│   NO → May be simple cause-effect, consider other methods
│
├─→ Map the system structure:
│   1. Plot behavior over time (time graphs, multiple variables)
│   2. Identify stocks (accumulations) 
│   3. Identify flows (rates filling/draining stocks)
│   4. Map feedback loops connecting stocks/flows
│      ├─ Balancing loops (goal-seeking, stabilizing)
│      └─ Reinforcing loops (amplifying, exponential)
│   5. Identify delays between action and response
│
├─→ Recognize archetypal trap pattern:
│   ├─ Multiple actors pulling different directions? → Policy Resistance
│   ├─ Shared resource degrading? → Tragedy of Commons
│   ├─ Standards declining with performance? → Drift to Low Performance
│   ├─ Competitors raising stakes continuously? → Escalation
│   ├─ Intervention creating dependency? → Addiction/Shifting Burden
│   ├─ Rules evaded while appearing compliant? → Rule Beating
│   └─ Optimizing wrong measure? → Seeking Wrong Goal
│
├─→ Choose intervention level (ascending leverage):
│   ├─ LOW: Adjust parameters (numbers, rates, standards)
│   ├─ MID: Restructure information flows to decision-makers
│   ├─ MID: Change rules governing system
│   ├─ HIGH: Add/remove/strengthen feedback loops
│   ├─ HIGH: Enable self-organization capacity
│   ├─ HIGHEST: Shift system goals/purpose
│   └─ TRANSCENDENT: Change paradigm (worldview)
│
└─→ Design feedback-based policy (not static rule):
    ├─ Creates automatic adjustment based on system state
    ├─ Strengthens corrective feedback loops
    └─ Monitors unintended consequences

For any accumulation problem:
│
├─→ Identify the stock: What is accumulating/depleting?
│
├─→ Map all inflows: What fills the stock?
│
├─→ Map all outflows: What drains the stock?
│
├─→ Compare rates:
│   ├─ Inflows > Outflows → Stock rising
│   ├─ Inflows = Outflows → Dynamic equilibrium
│   └─ Inflows < Outflows → Stock falling
│
└─→ To change stock level:
    ├─ Option A: Increase inflows
    ├─ Option B: Decrease outflows
    └─ Which has more leverage in THIS system?

When caught in system trap:
│
├─→ POLICY RESISTANCE (deadlock, fixes that fail)
│   ├─ Continue overpowering? → Escalating effort, no progress
│   └─ Let go + find shared overarching goal → Escape
│
├─→ TRAGEDY OF COMMONS (resource degradation)
│   ├─ Education alone? → Weak, rarely sufficient
│   ├─ Privatization? → Creates direct feedback
│   ├─ Regulation + enforcement? → Can work if monitored
│   └─ Create shared stewardship? → Strongest if achievable
│
├─→ DRIFT TO LOW PERFORMANCE (eroding standards)
│   ├─ Accept relative standards? → Reinforces decline
│   ├─ Hold absolute standards? → Stops erosion
│   └─ Benchmark to best performance? → Drives improvement
│
├─→ ESCALATION (arms race, price war)
│   ├─ Try to win? → Exponential growth to collapse
│   ├─ Unilateral disarmament? → Risky but can induce reciprocity
│   └─ Negotiated agreement? → Escape if enforceable
│
├─→ ADDICTION (dependency on intervention)
│   ├─ Continue intervention? → Deepening dependency
│   ├─ Strengthen original capacity first → Then withdraw
│   └─ Cold turkey + capacity building → Painful but necessary
│
├─→ RULE BEATING (letter vs. spirit)
│   ├─ Strengthen enforcement? → Intensifies trap
│   └─ Redesign rules with system understanding → Escape
│
└─→ WRONG GOAL (measuring wrong thing)
    ├─ Continue optimizing bad metric? → Perfect wrong outcome
    └─ Redefine indicators reflecting real welfare → Escape