Transcript Decision Makingx

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.
Bibliography

Snowden, David J., and Mary E. Boone.
"A Leader’s Framework for Decision
Making." Harvard Business Review: The
Essential Guide to Leadership. (2009):
59-68. Print.