COMPLEXITY MODELS Flashcards
Cynefin Framework
The Cynefin framework, created by Dave Snowden, is a conceptual framework used to diagnose cause-and-effect relationships as a decision-making aid. The framework offers five problem and decision-making contexts. The Cynefin framework helps identify behaviors, such as probing, sensing, responding acting, and categorizing which can help impact the relationships between variables and guide actions.
What is the 1st problem and decision-making context?
Where there is an obvious cause-and-effect relationship, best practices are used to make decisions.
What is the 2nd problem and decision-making context?
Complicated relationships exist when there is a set of known unknowns or a range
of correct answers. In these situations, it is best to assess the facts, analyze the situation, and apply good practices.
What is the 3rd problem and decision-making context?
Complex relationships include unknown unknowns. There is no apparent cause and effect, and there are no obvious right answers. In complex environments, one should probe the environment, sense the situation, and respond with action. This style uses emergent practices that allow for repeated cycles of probe-sense-respond as complex environments change in reaction to multiple stimuli, and what worked once may not be effective the next time.
What is the 4th problem and decision-making context?
In chaotic environments, the cause and effects are unclear. There is too much confusion to wait to understand the situation. In these situations, the first step is to take action to try and stabilize the situation, then sense where there is some stability, and respond by taking steps to get the chaotic situation to a complex situation.
What is the 5th problem and decision-making context?
Disordered relationships lack clarity and may require breaking them into smaller parts whose context links with one of the other four contexts.
Stacey Matrix
Ralph Stacey developed the Stacey matrix which is similar to the Cynefin framework, but it looks at two dimensions to determine the relative complexity of a project: (a) the relative uncertainty of the requirements for the deliverable, and (b) the relative uncertainty of the technology that will be used to create the deliverable. Based on the relative uncertainty of these dimensions, a project is considered simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic. The degree of complexity is one factor that influences tailoring methods and practices for the project.
