The document provides a simple timeline about making sense of complex problems. It discusses two problems organizations face - what to do and how to do it. It introduces the Cynefin framework for classifying problems as simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic. Over time, there has been a shift from predictability to adaptability and from resource efficiency to flow efficiency. The document contrasts a waterfall view with an agile perspective on problems and solutions. It addresses challenges in changing organizations and looks outside for ideas that are not necessarily new.
3. @chrisvmcd
what am I going to talk about
• sense making
• we face two problems
• timeline
• back in the day
• ski resorts and a drinking weekend
• agile adoption, the two day master and waterfall sandwiches
• how do we do it they way we want to do it
• broaden our horizons
• none of this is new
• food for thought
3
4. @chrisvmcd
cynefin
4
K-in-evin
habitat or place
“more properly understood as the place of our multiple belongings; the sense that we
all, individually and collectively, have many roots: cultural, religious, geographic, tribal etc.
We can never be fully aware of the nature of those belongings, but they profoundly
influence what we are"
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CynefinCentre
13. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
5
14. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
no relationship between cause and
effect at systems level
act - sense - respond
Novel Practice
5
15. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
no relationship between cause and
effect at systems level
act - sense - respond
Novel Practice
5
16. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
no relationship between cause and
effect at systems level
act - sense - respond
Novel Practice
5
17. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
no relationship between cause and
effect at systems level
act - sense - respond
Novel Practice
5
18. @chrisvmcd
Simple
ComplicatedComplex
Chaotic
Disorder
relationship between cause and effect is obvious to all
Known
sense - categorise - respond
Best Practice
Knownable
relationship between cause and effect requires analysis/
investigation and experts
sense - analyse - respond
Good Practice
probe - sense - respond
Unknownable
relationship between cause and effect can only
be perceived in retrospect
Emergent Practice
no relationship between cause and
effect at systems level
act - sense - respond
Novel Practice
5
19. @chrisvmcd
we have two problems;
what to do
and
how to do it
6
“It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do
your best.” - W. Edwards Deming
29. @chrisvmcd 14
make progress with
imperfect information
treat WIP as if it
were a liability
rather than an
asset
core ideas
30. @chrisvmcd 14
develop an evolutionary
capability by implementing
feedback loops
make progress with
imperfect information
treat WIP as if it
were a liability
rather than an
asset
core ideas
31. @chrisvmcd 14
develop an evolutionary
capability by implementing
feedback loops
make progress with
imperfect information
treat WIP as if it
were a liability
rather than an
asset
core ideas
foster a
craftsmanship
ethic and a focus
on quality and
pride of
workmanship
32. @chrisvmcd 14
develop an evolutionary
capability by implementing
feedback loops
make progress with
imperfect information
encourage a high
trust culture
treat WIP as if it
were a liability
rather than an
asset
core ideas
foster a
craftsmanship
ethic and a focus
on quality and
pride of
workmanship
69. @chrisvmcd
food for thought
• not all problems are created equal
• embrace uncertainty in what we do
• recognise the complexity in how we do it
• look at the whole system
• learn from others
31