Dave 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 work on anthro-complexity and his blog closely. He has had a massive influence on my thinking, especially in relation to Conversational Leadership.
How to Organize a Children's Party | Dave Snowden (source)
Knowledge Management should be focused on real, tangible intractable problems not aspirational goals.
It should deal pragmatically with the evolutionary possibilities of the present rather than seeking idealistic solutions.
| Website | The Cynefin Company |
| Wikipedia | Dave Snowden |
| Dave Snowden | |
| Blog | Dave Snowden Blog |
| RSS Feed | Dave Snowden Blog |
| X (Twitter) | @snowded |
| YouTube | Dave Snowden |
| Dave Snowden |
- Carpe Diem – Seize the Day Seize the day everyone
- Changing People ** The challenge of trying to change people
- Conversations Through the Cynefin Lens Unraveling the intricacies of everyday conversations
- The Cynefin Framework A conceptual framework to help make decisions
- The Vector Theory of Change Navigating change in a complex world
- We Humans Are Complex Human socio-technical systems are complex
Books: Dave Snowden (1)
Quotations: Dave Snowden (15)
- A Wayshaper Does Not Direct Dave Snowden
- Changing the Interactions Between People Dave Snowden
- Complex Humans Are Mind-body-world Beings Dave Snowden
- Decisions Are Shaped Before They Are Made Dave Snowden
- Idealistic Verses Naturalistic Approach to Business Dave Snowden
- In Complexity We Start Journeys with a Sense of Direction Dave Snowden
- Knowledge Is Given When It Is Needed Dave Snowden
- Knowledge Management Should Deal with the Evolutionary Possibilities of the Present Dave Snowden
- Mindset Change Smacks of Indoctrination Dave Snowden
- Stop Making Lists of Idealised Qualities of How Things Should Be Dave Snowden
- The Intent Is Pelagian. the Architecture Is Augustinian. Dave Snowden
- True Eureka Innovation Is Only Going to Happen by Engagement in the Real World Dave Snowden
- True Values Are Not Taught and Declared Dave Snowden
- We Always Know More Than We Can Say Dave Snowden
- What Is Organizational Culture? Dave Snowden
Videos: Dave Snowden (2)
Papers: Dave Snowden (1)
Blog Posts: Dave Snowden (3)
Tags: agile software development (3) | anthro-complexity (5) | complexity (100) | Cynefin Framework (14) | Dave Snowden (40) | knowledge management (63)
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Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
Online Knowledge Café: Conversational Leadership — Beyond Knowledge Management
Wednesday 17th March 2026, 14:00 - 15:30 London time
Knowledge Management gives us access to information, but it does not decide or act. In this Knowledge Café, we will explore how Conversational Leadership builds on KM by strengthening shared reasoning, judgement, and agency. Join us to examine how we think together when knowledge alone is not enough.