[[Decision-making]] framework created by [[@Dave Snowden]] which helps you to *make sense of different situations to choose an appropriate response*. ## Situation domains The decision-maker's situations can be categorised into 1 of 5 domains. The idea is to **identify which domain you're in and then choose the appropriate action based on its characteristics**. 1. **Clear**: Sense->Categorise->Respond Also known as obvious or simple, this is the domain of best practices. This is where problems are familiar and clearly defined, cause-and-effect relationships are clear and the situations are stable. Many process-oriented situations and problems would fall into this domain. It's a domain of "known knowns". Solutions are usually clear in these situations and don't require much expertise. 2. **Complicated**: Sense->Analyse->Respond There might be multiple right answers but aren't immediately visible. It's a domain of "known unknowns" – when questions are clear but it takes work to answer them. Because analysis is needed, the situations here typically require expert knowledge. Experts should assess the situation, investigate possible options and choose a course of action. 3. **Complex**: Probe->Sense->Respond There are "unknown unknowns". The situation cannot be understood by analysis because we don't yet know enough about it. It's not clear what needs to be answered in the first place. So the right approach is to experiment first, learn about the problem. Then sense what you're dealing with and respond appropriately. The goal should be to understand enough so that the problem or situation moves to the complicated domain where it's easier to deal with. 4. **Chaotic**: Act->Sense->Respond When things aren't under control, the situation falls into the chaotic domain. It's when cause and effect relationships are unclear. Here it's necessary to first act to establish some stability, to contain the situation. Only then assess the situation and work on bringing enough order to it to move it into the complex domain. The chaotic domain also presents an opportunity to try novel solutions as people might be more open to them in this context. 5. **Disorder**: Point zero starting point. If you don't know where you stand, you're in the disorder domain. The goal should be to quickly identify the right domain and move forward from there. It can be helpful to break down the problem or situation into multiple parts and assign each to a specific domain. ## Applicability Seems like this framework could be a good starting point for more detailed analysis of a decision, or could lead onto a decision about which subsequent framework to apply, e.g. if you recognised you were in the *Complicated* domain, you could apply relevant expertise/framework to measure the known unknowns. --- ## References - [Cynefin on Untools](https://untools.co/cynefin-framework) by [[@Adam Amran]] - [Cynefin Miro templates](https://miro.com/templates/cynefin-framework/)