Cynefin Network
This is the core of the Cynefin framework as developed by Dave
Snowden. Five domains of decision making. Broadly speaking â¢the
framework offers a categorization for separating the different
kinds of decisions that can be made, and the differing
approaches required for each. The following is gleaned through
pouring over the cognitive-edge website, reading through
articles like this one, and watching the excellent videos Dave
has online.
Simple issues: A relationship between cause and effect is
observable. A thing can be easily categorized, and established
best practice applied. See what's coming in. Make it fit a
category. Make a decision. This is a "best practice".
Complicated issues: There is a right answer, but it isn't
obvious. There is need to analyze. Several different ways of
doing things, all of which are legitimate if you have the right
expertise. This is a 'good practice'. See what's coming.
Analyze towards a solution (perhaps by contacting an expert).
Make a decision.
Complex Issues: No connection between cause and effect. Safe
fail experiments. If an experiment succeeds, it gets amplified.
If it fails it gets dampened. Amplification and Dampening
should be predetermined. Try something. See what happens.
Amplify or dampen.
Chaotic Issues: Move very quickly to stabilize the situation.
Any practice will be novel.
Disorder: Is the space of not knowing which of the domains
we're in. In this space people tend to fall back on their
preferences for action. For the bureaucrat (simple domain) all
failures are a failure of process. For the Deep expert
(complicated domain), all failures are a failure of time and
resources for research. For complexity workers (complex domain)
all things require a large amount of
resources/opinions/concepts to be brought to bear to search for
a solution. For totalitarians (chaotic domain), everything is
chaotic, and all decisions should be made directly by them, and
immediately acted upon.
From Dave Cormier