From Harvard Business Review By: David J. Snowden and Mary E. Boone Harvard business

The Cynefin Framework  Cynefin (ku-nev-in): Welsh word that signifies the multiple factors in our environment and our experience that influence us in ways we can never understand.  Therefore—not all decisions have a simple answer.

The Four Domains

Simple Domain  Characteristics: ○ Repeating patterns ○ Clear cause and effect ○ Fact-based management  The Leader’s Job: ○ Sense, Categorize, Respond ○ Communicate in clear and direct ways ○ Interactive communication may not be necessary  Danger! ○ Complacency and comfort ○ Desire to make complex problems simple ○ Overreliance on best practice

Complicated Domain  Characteristics: ○ Expert diagnosis required ○ Cause and effect not immediately apparent to everyone ○ Fact based but—more than one right answer  The Leader’s Job: ○ Sense, Analyze, Respond ○ Create panels of experts ○ Listen to conflicting advice  Danger! ○ Experts can become overconfident and blind to other solutions ○ Viewpoints of non-experts are excluded ○ Analysis Paralysis

Complex Domain  Characteristics: ○ Flux and unpredictability ○ Need for creative and innovative approaches ○ Unknown Unknowns  The Leader’s Job: ○ Probe, Sense, Respond ○ Increased levels of interaction and communication ○ Use methods that help generate ideas  Danger! ○ Temptation to fall back into habitual command-and- control mode ○ Temptation to look for facts rather than allowing patterns to emerge ○ Desire to cut short time involved

Chaotic Domain  Characteristics: ○ High turbulence ○ Many decisions and no time ○ High tension  The Leader’s Job: ○ Act, Sense, Respond ○ Look for what works instead of seeking right answers ○ Provide clear, direct communication  Danger! ○ Applying a command-and-control approach longer than needed ○ Missed opportunity for innovation ○ Chaos unabated

What to take away…  Make sure you can analyze what situation you’re in, be it simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic.  Be flexible with your decision making style.

And…  Don’t make decisions like Steve Carell.Steve Carell

Bibliography  Snowden, David J., and Mary E. Boone. "A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making." Harvard Business Review: The Essential Guide to Leadership. (2009): Print.