ABSTRACT
The Mess Mapping process is presented to demonstrate current applications of practices developed for over 50 years. The concept of the “mess” is based on Russell Ackoff’s formulation of social complexity, where the mapping provides insight for stakeholders in institutions or organizations that perceive situations as impeded by complexity or conflict. Mess Mapping focuses on better understanding the situation that the organizations together create and enables the cocreation of common mental models for dealing with the mess. A recent Mess Mapping engagement is discussed, for service delivery organizations for the elderly and disabled in Alameda County, California.
