8 Oct 2024
We are pleased to be working with the Law Enforcement Academy of Uzbekistan, through the offices of Regional Dialogue, on how to approach endemic corruption as a ‘cloud problem’ rather than a ‘clock problem’.
Identifying the type of problem one is dealing with – cloud, clock or clear – helps a team pick the right analysis model and then - most importantly – the best way to respond. Endemic corruption is a complex, adaptive system – also known as a cloud problem. The problem is hard to define, the boundaries shift, no one has complete information about it and causes create consequences that further fuel the original cause – known as a vicious circle.
Learning how to integrate a systems lens to corruption analysis takes some dedicated effort. There is new terminology, a different process and a new lens to viewing the problem to adopt. Our Co-Director, Cheyanne SC has spent the past two months working virtually and in-person with the Law Enforcement Academy of Uzbekistan, building their systems analysis capacity.
At the end of the work the group identified that you must learn systems analysis by doing and testing it – it is not something that can be read from a book and then utilized.
The group also identified a series of key do’s and don’ts and it useful a checklist:
- Do make sure your factors increase and decrease
- Do remember that actors can’t be factors
- Do know the level or perspective of the map
- Don’t let the map become generic
- Do keep focused on the framing question when creating loops
- Do close the loop – no straight lines or horseshoes
- Do pay attention to the timeframe
- Do include social norms
- Don’t cross lines when building the complete map
- Don’t repeat factors in the same loop
If you are new to social norms, check out our Social Norms Roadmap here, and if you are new to corruption analysis, check out our intro video on it here.