Cynefin Model – how to make decisions in a complex world?

The Cynefin model is decision-making framework created by Dave Snowden to help leaders and teams align their actions with the context in which they operate. Cynefin doesn't tell you what to do, but how to think about a situation before making a decision.

🧠 5 domains of reality – context classification

The model categorizes situations into 5 domains, each requiring a different approach:

✅ 1. Simple (Obvious / Clear)

📌 Characteristics:

• Cause and effect relationships are obvious.

• Answers are known and predictable.

• Best practices are sufficient.
   

🧭 Approach:
See → Categorize → Respond

📍 Example:

• Customer service following a script

• Routine accounting tasks
   

🛠 Management:Apply procedures, standardize actions.

🔄 2. Complicated

📌 Characteristics:

• Multiple good solutions exist.

• Expert analysis is required.
   

🧭 Approach:
See → Analyze → Respond

📍 Example:

• Designing IT systems

• Medical diagnosis
   

🛠 Management:
Consult experts, apply good practices.

🌪 3. Complex

📌 Characteristics:

• Cause and effect are only clear in hindsight.

• Requires experiments and testing.
   

🧭 Approach:
Experiment → Observe → Respond

📍 Example:

• Organizational culture change

• Implementing innovations
   

🛠 Management:
Build a safe space for experimentation and learning.

🚨 4. Chaotic

📌 Characteristics:

• No clear relationships.

• Requires immediate action.
   

🧭 Approach:
Act → Observe → Respond

📍 Example:

• Natural disasters

• Cyber attacks
   

🛠 Management:
Act quickly, stabilize the situation, regain control.

❓ 5. Disordered

📌 Characteristics:

• Uncertainty about the domain.

• Everyone operates on their own schema.
   

🛠 Management:
Identify the correct domain and take appropriate action.

💡 Why is it worth knowing the Cynefin model?
 

• 🧩 Facilitates aligning management style with the situation.

• 🚫 Prevents the use of inadequate methods.

• 🔍 Helps make decisions with greater context awareness.

📌 Summary – 5 domains of the Cynefin model
 

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