Modern systems interconnect in non-obvious ways. Revealing these hidden connections is crucial for accurate cascade mapping.
Digital-Physical Interconnections
Digital systems seem separate from physical ones until cascade reveals their interdependence.
When Jennifer mapped retail cascades, she discovered: - E-commerce depends on physical delivery infrastructure - Digital payments require physical card production - Cloud services need physical data centers - Virtual meetings require physical device manufacturing
These interconnections meant digital businesses weren't immune to physical disruptions.
Financial-Operational Interconnections
Financial and operational systems intertwine in ways that amplify cascades.
Steven traced how operational disruptions cascade into financial crises: - Closed facilities trigger lease defaults - Lease defaults stress commercial real estate - Real estate stress impacts regional banks - Bank stress restricts credit to other businesses - Credit restriction causes more operational failures
This financial-operational cascade created opportunities in alternative financing and asset repositioning.
Social-Economic Interconnections
Social behaviors and economic systems create feedback loops that accelerate cascades.
Diana mapped social-economic cascades: - Job losses reduce consumer spending - Reduced spending causes more business failures - Business failures create more job losses - Social stress changes political dynamics - Political changes alter economic policies
Understanding these loops helped her position for both the decline and eventual recovery phases.