Rich Pictures

Rich Pictures is an innovative way of turning complex systems, ideas and everyday business issues into a neat format that everyone can understand easily.

As a method, Rich Pictures was initially developed as part of Peter Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland, 1981; Checkland and Scholes, 1990) and is a way of not only gaining insight into a problem or situation but also a way to come up with new solutions.

Rich Pictures can be used at the very earliest stages of a project to when examining a particular business issue. The process of summarising a situation with pictures and symbols will create clarity about the issue and you might even find that what you thought was problem isn't a problem at all but an opportunity.

Example:

When creating a Rich Picture use:

pictorial symbols
keywords
cartoons
sketches
symbols
a title

Metaphorically colour your picture with the more subjective elements of the situation or system you are describing. The human side of what is happening. For example, who gets along with whom; what a particular point of view is.

Steps to Creating a Rich Picture

Use a large piece of paper...flip charts are ideal.
Choose symbols, scenes or images that represent the situation or issue.
Put in connections between your symbols. Take note of where you don't see any - this might be important later.
Use words only where absolutely necessary and to make differentiations between symbols that might look similar.
Keep your rich picture open and without boundaries.

Remember to:

Include everything that is, or even might be, relevant to a situation.
Use words as a last resort to differentiate or when you can't think of a pictorial representation.
Follow your instincts and intuition on where to place items on your sheet. After you have finished you can think about the meaning of where you've placed different components.
Break each unit down as far as it can go. So for example, instead of using the;: words 'Recruitment System', break this down into pictorial steps.
Put yourself in the picture.

Are you still looking at a blank sheet?

If you are, try these ideas to get started:

What elements do you have in your structure/system? These are usually the parts that change slowly over time and are fundamental to the whole. For example, the people; the locations; the organisation structure. These are usually always nouns.
What is the process behind your structure/system? For example, what activities are going on? These are usually always verbs.
What interaction do the elements have with the activities? How do they relate to each other? These are usually adverbs and are likely to be subjective. What one person describes as 'slowly' might be described by another as 'thoroughly'. All of these are worth noting as they will be important for the next step.

Now you know what you have, what do you want instead?

So, now you know what you have, here are some steps to set you on the path to what you want instead.

Think positively. Thinking about what you don't want is problem thinking and will only bring more problems. What do you really want?
Is it within your control? If it isn't a part of it will be. Find that part. You cannot achieve outcomes for anyone else. So, for example, having a happy workforce, isn't necessarily going to be within your control but allowing your workforce to go home an hour early on Friday, just might be and might influence their happiness.
What is what you want really like? When you put yourself in that place, what can you see? What can you hear? What does it feel like? What does it smell and taste like? Experience what it is like to be you in your vision.
How is it for the other significant people in your life? Are they happy with what and where you are now?
Is there a cost to achieving this goal? Are you willing to pay that price? What about the others in your life?
Are there any benefits to staying where you are now? Can you keep these benefits as you reach your goal?
Does achieving your goal fit with who you are? Your beliefs and your values?
What is your first step towards this vision? Make it as precise as you can.

Now make a rich picture of what you want.

Hey...you have a goal - well done!
Written by Pat Naylor and Leanne Norris