Balance of Petals Diagramming How-to Guide and Case Study (2023)

Balance of Petals Diagraming is a systems thinking tool used to brainstorm and document what, specifically, is needed from stakeholders to support an initiative, such as a Vision Zero or Safe System-related initiative, as well as what about the initiative brings value to each stakeholder. This guide and case study are included in a five-part series of systems thinking tools, adapted and applied to support road safety interventions for more effective VZ planning and implementation. Utilizing these resources, stakeholders can establish a firm foundation and deepen their understanding of the system (of policies, norms, funding streams, equitable/inequitable processes, etc.) underlying their road safety outcomes. Systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving and understanding complex problems by analyzing the patterns, dynamics, relationships, and feedback loops among various elements of a system. In these set of resources, researchers from the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety (CSCRS) have developed systems thinking-based content and guidance materials to strengthen the implementation of Vision Zero (VZ) and Safe Systems approaches. These tools and resources introduce the systems thinking framework, and provide guidance on using systems thinking and collaboration tools to support VZ planning and coalition building efforts.