An illustration of the structure and process of strategic mapping as described in Visible Thinking by Bryson et al.

1. Strategic What would be
your overall Possible Agreed
Planning purpose or
'mission'?
'missions' 'mission'
Template
using causal Why?
mapping
What would result Candidate
(arrow direction from doing that? goals and
indicates causality What would the negative Actual goals
or influence) consequences be of goals
doing that?
What do Possible
Start here you want to Strategies
strategies
do?
Key questions
for "laddering"
up and down
How would you do Action
that? What would it Actions
options
take to do that?
How?
Adapted from p. 36 of Assertions or Assertions or
What are you assumptions assumptions
Visible Thinking: Unlocking assuming about
Causal Mapping for Practical about the supported
the world? world by research
Business Results by John M.
Bryson, et. al., 2004