Addressing problems only on their event level is often not enough. The real causes are often hidden from plain sight.

Iceberg model is a tool that allows you to shift your perspective and see beyond the immediate events that everyone notices. It helps you to uncover root causes of why those events happen. That's possible by looking at deeper levels of abstraction within the system that are not immediately obvious.

How to use it

Iceberg model consists of four levels:

• Events

• Patterns

• Structures

• Mental models

Example of an iceberg model by Justin Farrugia

Looking below individual events, you can see trends over time—patterns. They are the clue for understanding the system structures that are behind those patterns. Structures are the relationships and feedback loops inside a system. These structures are in turn based on the underlying mental models of people.

Events and patterns show you what is happening. Structures and mental models tell you why it's happening.

The deeper you can