Links

The fourth tool is links, tying together behaviors that influenced successive behaviors (coupled actions) during the process. Links show cause-effect relationships among the EBs on the Matrix.

Links are simple arrows from one EB to one or more EBs on the Matrix. The investigator creates the links to show the flow of actions or behaviors needed to produce the process outcome. During the matrix development, The investigation challenge is to identify tentative links, confirm them and then test the links to determine if the inputs are all necessary and sufficient to produce the outcome.

The links provide disciplining rigor to the process description and explanations.