Cynefin is a decision-making framework that helps individuals and organisations navigate complexity. It recognises five domains: Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, and Disorder. Each domain has its unique characteristics and requires different approaches.
In the Clear domain, cause and effect relationships are apparent. Known practices and standard procedures can solve problems. The Complicated domain involves multiple correct answers, requiring expert analysis or the application of good practice.
The Complex domain is characterised by unpredictability. Cause and effect can only be discerned in hindsight, requiring probes, experiments, and emergent practices. The Chaotic domain is turbulent and lacks any perceivable order. Immediate action is necessary, and novel practices are the only way forward.
Finally, the Disorder domain is where uncertainty reigns. It is the state of not knowing which of the other domains you are in, leading to confusion and potentially disastrous decisions.
Cynefin also emphasises the importance of context, arguing that different situations require different responses. It encourages the use of narrative techniques to understand these contexts better. The framework is a tool for sense-making, not categorisation, and is thus dynamic, allowing for movement between domains.
Go to source article: https://cynefin.io/wiki/Main_Page