“Create a causal loop diagram for a community recycling program with recycling participation, program visibility, collection workload, missed pickups, and resident satisfaction; include a reinforcing Participation flywheel and a balancing Service strain loop.”
Read the decisions behind it.
The participation flywheel makes the desired reinforcing pattern easy to find.
Service strain connects more users to the operational risk of missed pickups.
Resident satisfaction closes the balancing loop back to participation.
Every link has a visible positive or negative polarity so readers can test the logic.
Use it when outcomes feed back into their own causes over time. Use a flowchart instead for a one-way operational process without feedback.
Other examples in this family.
Common questions
What is a causal loop diagram?
It is a systems-thinking diagram that shows signed cause-and-effect links and feedback loops between variables.
How do I make a causal loop diagram?
List variables that can change, connect them with positive or negative causal links, then identify reinforcing and balancing loops.
How do I read loop labels?
A reinforcing loop amplifies change; a balancing loop resists or regulates change. Delays show effects that arrive later.
Is a template different from an example?
A template supplies an adaptable structure and labels. An example documents one specific system.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a free one. No card is asked for.