Tree of Influence
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Orientation

When to draw the tree bottom-to-top and when left-to-right.

A tree can grow in 2 directions. Both are equally valid. Here is the same tree drawn both ways:

A small tree drawn vertically 4 nodes and 3 arrows: 2 root / problem, 1 action / intervention, 1 desired state / outcome. A text version follows the diagram. [P]Setting up alaptop takes aweek [P]Senior peoplehave no time tomentor [A]Assign each newhire a buddy [O]New hires shipsomething intheir firstmonth Legend [P] Root / Problem [A] Action / Intervention [O] Desired State / Outcome Flow: roots (bottom) → outcomes (top).
Vertical: roots at the bottom, outcomes at the top.
Diagram as text: A small tree drawn vertically

Nodes:

  • Root / Problem: "Setting up a laptop takes a week"
  • Root / Problem: "Senior people have no time to mentor"
  • Action / Intervention: "Assign each new hire a buddy"
  • Desired State / Outcome: "New hires ship something in their first month"

Arrows:

  • "Setting up a laptop takes a week" influences "New hires ship something in their first month"
  • "Senior people have no time to mentor" influences "Assign each new hire a buddy"
  • "Assign each new hire a buddy" influences "New hires ship something in their first month"
The same tree drawn horizontally 4 nodes and 3 arrows: 2 root / problem, 1 action / intervention, 1 desired state / outcome. A text version follows the diagram. [P]Setting up alaptop takes aweek [P]Senior peoplehave no time tomentor [A]Assign each newhire a buddy [O]New hires shipsomething intheir firstmonth Legend [P] Root / Problem [A] Action / Intervention [O] Desired State / Outcome Flow: roots (left) → outcomes (right).
Horizontal: roots on the left, outcomes on the right.
Diagram as text: The same tree drawn horizontally

Nodes:

  • Root / Problem: "Setting up a laptop takes a week"
  • Root / Problem: "Senior people have no time to mentor"
  • Action / Intervention: "Assign each new hire a buddy"
  • Desired State / Outcome: "New hires ship something in their first month"

Arrows:

  • "Setting up a laptop takes a week" influences "New hires ship something in their first month"
  • "Senior people have no time to mentor" influences "Assign each new hire a buddy"
  • "Assign each new hire a buddy" influences "New hires ship something in their first month"

Choosing one

Orientation Layout Best for
Vertical Roots at the bottom, outcomes at the top Wide, shallow trees: many problems and outcomes, short paths between them
Horizontal Roots on the left, outcomes on the right Narrow, deep trees: few problems and outcomes, long chains in between

Vertical trees spread wide layers across a widescreen display. Horizontal trees give long chains room to stretch.

Rules

Groups arrive at this convention on their own. In every observed tree, outcomes ended up aligned at one end and roots at the other, because that is what makes the arrows readable.