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Fictional example

Willow Lane Primary

Amara, Grace, Tomasz, Dev and Ruth

Published 14 October 2026
Release 2026-10-14.1

Question 2 of 6 · In the way

What stands in the way?

What is happening now, and why.

Statements: 9
Connections: 7
Open questions: 2

How to read it. Read from the bottom up: each arrow means “contributes to”.

ProblemCauseAccepted for nowProposedDisputedandJoint conditions

ProblemFewer children walk to school than five years ago, according to the school's travel survey.
- ↑ contributes to
  - CauseParents feel the walk is unsafe, so more of them drive.
    - ↑ contributes to
      - ProblemChildren step out between parked cars where drivers cannot see them.
        ↑ contributes to
        ProblemCars queue and double-park outside the school gate between 8:30 and 8:50.
        ↑ contributes to all of these together
        CauseMany parents drop their children off by car on the way to work.
        CauseThere is nowhere near the gate for drivers to stop briefly.
        ↑ contributes to Proposed
        CauseMost cars on Willow Lane at 8:30 are driving through to the industrial estate, not dropping children off. Disputed
    - ↑ contributes to Proposed
      - CauseThe pavement outside the bakery is too narrow for two buggies to pass. Proposed
ProblemMorning customers give up on Tomasz's bakery when the street is jammed.
- ↑ contributes to
  - ProblemCars queue and double-park outside the school gate between 8:30 and 8:50. shown above

Where this comes from

In the Logical Thinking Process this view is a current reality tree. How a commons works →