an online book by David Gurteen
The Cynefin framework ( kuh-NEV-in) is a conceptual framework used to aid decision-making. Created in 1999 by Dave Snowden when he worked for IBM Global Services, it has been described as a "sense-making device". Cynefin is a Welsh word for 'habitat'.
Cynefin offers five decision-making contexts or "domains"—clear (known as simple until 2014, then obvious until being recently renamed), complicated, complex, chaotic, and confusion—that help managers to identify how they perceive situations and make sense of their own and other people's behaviour. The framework draws on research into systems theory, complexity theory, network theory and learning theories.
Credit: Wikipedia - Cynefin_FrameworkDave Snowden is a Welsh management consultant and researcher in the field of knowledge management. Known for the development of the Cynefin framework, he is the founder and chief scientific officer of The Cynefin Company, a Singapore-based management consulting firm specializing in complexity and sensemaking. I have known Dave for many years and follow his … Continue reading Dave Snowden Management Consultant
A clear, succinct 5 minutes introduction to Dave Snowden’s Cynefin Framework by Jennifer Garvey Berger. Making Sense of Complexity – an introduction to Cynefin | Jennifer Garvey Berger Posts where this video is embedded Navigating Change in a Complex World The Vector Theory of Change The Cynefin Framework A conceptual framework to help make decisions We Humans Are … Continue reading Making Sense of Complexity – an Introduction to Cynefin Jennifer Garvey Berger (2017)
The Cynefin Framework | Dave Snowden Posts that link to this post We Humans Are Complex Human socio-technical systems are complexPeople: Dave SnowdenDave Snowden Management ConsultantPosts: Dave SnowdenCarpe Diem – Seize the Day Seize the day everyoneChanging People ** What right do we have to try to change someone?Navigating Change in a Complex World The Vector … Continue reading The Cynefin Framework Dave Snowden
Abstract Many executives are surprised when previously successful leadership approaches fail in new situations, but different contexts call for different kinds of responses. Before addressing a situation, leaders need to recognize which context governs it -and tailor their actions accordingly. Snowden and Boone have formed a new perspective on leadership and decision making that’s based … Continue reading A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making David J. Snowden and Mary E. Boone (2007)
This book Cynefin – Weaving Sense-Making into the Fabric of Our World chronicles the origin story and historical evolution of the Cynefin Framework, including personal vignettes where network members share how it has impacted their lives, and reflections by practitioners on how they have applied it across many diverse contexts. AustraliaAustriaBrazilCanadaChinaCzech RepublicEgyptFranceGermanyGlobalIndiaItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsPolandSaudia ArabiaSingaporeSpainTurkeyUAEUnited KingdomUnited … Continue reading Cynefin – Weaving Sense-making Into the Fabric of Our World by Dave Snowden & friends (2020)
Gurteen Knowledge Blog November 27, 2020, 22:02Do you know the difference between complex and complicated? Most people don’t. It’s an important distinction to understand when living and working in a complex world. Sonja Blignaut outlines several differences in this blog post 7 Differences between complex and complicated. The Cynefin Framework also helps you take better decisions by making … Continue reading Do You Know the Difference Between Complex and Complicated? Most people don’t
In everyday language, we often say something is complex when it is merely difficult or complicated. A complex system is very different from a complicated one. In the language of complexity, the engine on a Boeing 747 is complicated, but it is not complex. On the other hand, the human brain is complex. If you … Continue reading Complex Is Not the Same as Complicated We often say that something is complex when it is merely difficult or complicated
The Cynefin framework helps you make better decisions by understanding the situation/context you are in and using an appropriate decision-making method. The Cynefin framework is a conceptual framework used to aid decision-making. It was created in 1999 by Dave Snowden. It can also be described as a “sense-making device.” Cynefin is a Welsh word for … Continue reading The Cynefin Framework A conceptual framework to help make decisions
With their rigid plans and fixed outcomes, traditional change management methods often struggle in today’s complex, unpredictable environments. Dave Snowden’s Vector Theory of Change offers a more adaptable solution by focusing on setting a broad direction (vector) rather than a specific goal. Introduction In our complex world, initiating successful change can be daunting. The traditional … Continue reading Navigating Change in a Complex World The Vector Theory of Change
Navigating complex systems requires innovative problem-solving approaches. Traditional linear methods often prove ineffective in unpredictable environments. Safe-to-fail probes offer a valuable tool for gaining insights, building resilience, and driving sustainable change through small-scale experiments. Dave Snowden’s concept of “safe-to-fail” is an approach to dealing with complex systems’ inherent uncertainty and unpredictability. Traditional, linear problem-solving methods … Continue reading Navigating Complexity with Safe-to-fail Probes The power of safe-to-fail probes
Complex systems defy simplistic problem-solving. Rather than definitive solutions, we can only respond to the intricate web of interconnected elements. In a complex environment, there are no solutions, only an endless series of adaptive responses. Complex systems are characterized by their nonlinear dynamics, emergent properties, and the presence of feedback loops. These characteristics make it … Continue reading There Are No Solutions to Complex Challenges Only an endless series of adaptive responses
