Table 4.

Questions which can be used to understand system functioning

ASM level	Questions
Event	(a) What issues or problems keep arising despite efforts to rectify them? (b) Where are intervention efforts targeted? Do they tend to focus on those that are affected by the problem? (c) Are the actions likely to stop the problem reoccurring in the future? (d) Do the actions seek to generate outcomes quickly and are they unlikely to be opposed by systems architects?
Structures	(a) What elements make up the system? Consider physical structures, people and organisations, interconnections and relationships, and information that flows between the elements of the system. (b) How are these elements organised or arranged? (c) Which of these elements cause the problems or events to occur? Also consider the connections between the elements. (d) What is the nature of the relationships between elements in the system? Do they self-regulate (i.e. one increases, the other decreases) or do they self-reinforce (i.e. one increases, the other increases)? How long does it take for these changes to occur? (e) Who has access to information about the system, and the elements within the system?
Goals	(a) What are the system/organisations/key individuals aiming to achieve within their spheres of influence? (b) What purpose do these systems/organisations/individuals hope to serve? (c) How are the system structures organised and why are they organised in this way? (d) Do the goals of multiple systems influencers overlap? To what extent could they be aligned? (e) Are the goals of the system currently supported by actions?
Beliefs	(a) What are the prevailing assumptions, beliefs and values that explain why things are done as they are? (b) Who (people and organisations) are the key decision makers within the system? What values, perspectives and priorities do they hold? (c) To what extent do these key decision makers believe that change is necessary, feasible and/or desirable? (d) What beliefs do these people and organisations hold regarding how the system works, and the goals that the system is working towards? (e) What is of fundamental importance to these people and/or organisations? (f) What are the beliefs of others who may be affected by systems change? Do they support or oppose the dominant belief within the system or the goals that it is working towards?

ASM: Action Scales Model.