Decision

Cynefin Framework

Clear, complicated, complex, chaotic, confused

Best for: matching approach to context
Time: 30–60 min
Difficulty: Advanced

Example

Matching response style to context during a major incident

Clear / obvious

Sense, categorize, respond
Runbook applies

Complicated

Sense, analyze, respond
Call in domain experts

Complex

Probe, sense, respond
Run safe-to-fail experiments

Chaotic

Act, sense, respond
Stop the bleeding first

Related frameworks

OODA Loop

Observe, Orient, Decide, Act

Decision Tree

Branching outcomes and probabilities

Expected Value

Σ probability × outcome

Want to fill in your own Cynefin Framework?

Get FrameworkList for iOS