Cynefin Canvas

Even the most experienced people making decisions often don't know where to start or what questions to ask. The Cynefin Framework, which was defined by Dave Snowden at IBM in 1999, can help you figure out how to solve these problems and what to do next.

The Cynefin Framework is used by managers and executives in many different industries to come up with good plans. You can use this Decision-Making Template for all kinds of problems, especially those that come up out of the blue and need a quick solution.

What does Cynefin Framework mean?

The Cynefin Framework is made up of five domains: Obvious, complicated, complex, chaotic, and disorder.

•        The Obvious domain is made up of things you've seen before and know how to handle.

•        The Complicated domain is for when you don't know what's going on but have the skills to figure out what needs to be done.

•        The Complex domain includes things that are new and might not be known at first. Just to understand the problem, you have to ask questions and try things out. Iteration is the way to find the answer.

•        When things are chaotic, the situation is unstable, and you need to act quickly.

•        The Disorder domain includes all situations where you can't tell what's going on around you. In each domain, the framework shows how a leader should act.

The Cynefin Framework is a powerful and adaptable way to look at how people act. You can use the template whenever you need to put a problem or choice into a category and figure out how to handle it. Many organisations use the framework to help them come up with new products, make marketing plans, and figure out how to run their business.

The framework can also help you deal with a crisis or anything else that comes up out of the blue. Use the template to teach new employees how to handle such a situation or to practise worst-case scenarios.