Magnetic shape memory alloys are known to undergo stress- and temperature-driven phase changes. Here we consider the Ni-Mn-Ga system, in which austenite can transform into martensite upon cooling or by the application of mechanical pressure, allowing for large reversible strain cycling that makes such alloys promising candidates for large-strain actuation or magnetocaloric cooling devices. To date, however, little is known about the system's small-scale mechanical response or its cyclic switching behaviour at reduced length scales. We, therefore, consider dissipative structural processes during small-scale mechanical switching that may contribute to functional fatigue in actuation applications.