Cynefin - Weaving Sense-Making into the Fabric of Our World

by Dave Snowden, Zhen Goh, Sue Borchardt (Illustrator)

The Cynefin® sense-making Framework, brainchild of innovative thinker Dave Snowden, has never been more needed. The Framework empowers leaders across organizations, governments, and local communities, to work with uncertainty – to navigate complexity, create resilience, and thrive. As Snowden says, “The Framework guides us to make sense of the world, so that we can skillfully act in it.” Come with us on the remarkable 21-year journey of Cynefin, a framework that enables people from all walks of life to improve – their situation, their work, their business, their relationships, and their environment. Cynefin practitioners share their wisdom, applications, and experiences using the Framework, across healthcare, leadership facilitation, organizational behavior, safety, software development, strategy, and well-being. You’ll discover how to not only ‘ride the rapids of complexity,’ but find in so doing, grace, power, and inexplicable opportunity.

Genres: Business, Leadership, Nonfiction, Management, Philosophy, Science, Design

376 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Mario Sailer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about Cynefin, but if you expect to get a better grip on the framework or some background information, you probably will be disappointed. The book is more or less hailing and praising David Snowden and his Cynefin Framework with a lot of narratives. Some of them I found interesting and useful, most of them not. Overall I found it superficial with only two or three narratives that provided a bit more background information on how the framework actually helped in sense-making (apart from clustering problems into the four plus problem spaces of Cynefin). Speaking about narratives: Some of the contributions point to SenseMaker, a tool to analyze narratives in an organization without going deeper into the fact.
German speaking folks interested in narratives, management of complexity and change management, I would suggest the book "Erfolgreiches Managment von Intabilität" from Peter Kruse, which I found more compelling. Or just read Dave Snowdens blogs and papers ...

[Yannick Grenzinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was eager to read this first book about Cynefin. Because I know the surface of the framework, I hoped this book would really make me understand it fully.

Sadly it's more a collection of story about how people use the framework. Some story gives clues and many are interesting so I would give surely give it 4 stars if I were a connoisseurs but sadly it's not really fit for people who discover Cynefin.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

First part of the book is a good introduction to sense-making and Cynefin. The second part contains guest chapters which are a bit hit-or-miss, but the "hits" were great and show the universal applicability of Cynefin. The "misses" are basically fanmail and can be skipped entirely.

Still a recommendation if you want to better understand Cynefin and its implications!

[Greg Githens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first learned of Cynefin in 2007 through the article in HBR. I immediately saw its potential for enhancing strategic thinking and began to share it in my strategic thinking workshops and coaching.

Cynefin provides strategic thinkers an excellent tool for sensing reality and making sense of it. Rather than the too-often idealized and oversimplified notion of strategy as vision, mission, etc., it helps strategists recognize the role emergence, and from that the importance of experimenting with safe-to-fail probes. In complex systems, it is better to think of strategy as something starts with sensing weak signals followed by crafting of better – sometimes novel – logics and resources. The core task for strategic thinkers is to find “the evolutionary potential in the present.” Strategy continues to emphasize the leadership of setting direction but also accepts the discomfort of ambiguity.

This book has greatly enriched my practice of facilitation, coaching, and thought leadership. Long awaited and highly recommended!

[Geert Hofman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand there are a lot of good articles on the theoretical background of the framework/scaffold that Cynefin is as well as some really interesting examples of how to use it in a practical context. On the other hand some of the articles seem to be somewhat idolatrous in the sense that you get the feeling that David Snowden has gotten a guru like status for the writers of these articles. Nevertheless it's certainly worth the read if you don't mind some mild worshiping along the way.

[Ken Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't expect a Guide on the Framework, and you'll love it.

[John Cumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brings to life Dave Snowden’s Cynefin Framework through page upon page of case studies in different domains. As with anything connected with Dave’s work, there are so many interesting threads to pull on. If you want insight into how to approach your big complex problems, you are sure to find inspiration within the pages of this book. A must read for organisational consultants and coaches - anyone involved in catalysing change. Happy 21st Birthday Cynefin!

[Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to the authors vision on how Cynefin should be thought, this book provides lots of stories about how the framework is used, examples and concrete approaches to make sense of our environment. The chapters of the book are all written by different authors. I did not find that all chapters were equally interesting, but others may appreciate more what I'm not all that much into. The book teaches lots of new concepts and new words, and there is something for everyone, making your world grow. The chapters in the book can be read in different order depending on your preferences, although I will likely just return to read specific chapters in the future.

What i dislike is the form factor that the book comes in. The wide pages makes the text more difficult to read. The flexibility of the book makes reading the book lying down a challenge. The content however outweighs all of these challenges.

Highly recommended for everyone, wherever you are in terms of learning about system thinking, wicked problems, complexity, uncertainty, expertise, mechanisms and the world view in general.

[Phil D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of the Cynefin framework but this book does not live up the expectation. The first part - explaining the framework - is worth reading. The second part of the book is a collection of stories applying the framework. Some are more informational than others, some not worth reading. I tend to 3 stars but because of the framework, I choose 4.

[Anastasia Butova-nikishina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading and buying

Mostly it’s difficult to understand Dave, but in this book you’ll find not theory but bunch of examples how different people use cynefin framework in their experience. I highly recommend this book worth its money and time for reading

[zoagli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I especially liked Chris Corrigan’s experiential learning exercises to teach the different domains of Cynefin. And Viv Read’a complex facilitation mindset.

Other than that, the book was pointedly nonlinear, but in an uneven and ultimately unnerving way. I cannot give more than two stars.

[Sergey Kuntsevich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book of references. Nothing more, nothing less. The book broadens the understanding scope of application of this framework (Cynefin), but it doesn't worth paying money.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para alguien como yo, que nunca había oído hablar de Cynefin, empezar a leer este libro puede causar cierto vértigo: todo el mundo celebrando los 21 años de algo, al parecer maravilloso, de lo que nunca había oído hablar. ¿Me habré equivocado de fiesta de cumpleaños?

Una vez que superas los complejos y empiezas a leer lo que cuentan los invitados o el propio Dave Snowden (creado del framework), no queda otro remedio que empezar a flipar. En mi opinión un framework BRUTAL al que, gracias a los muchos capítulos y autores te puedes asomar de muchas maneras diferentes. Y algunas resonarán contigo más que otras.

Tiendo a sentir rechazo o, como mínimo, precaución, cada vez que siento que estoy delante de una "magic pill", o "one size fits all". Es decir, cada vez que el autor, interesadamente, te habla de cómo su "ocurrencia" es lo mejor para todo.

Cynefin habla precisamente de que no hay una fórmula mágica que valga para todo; habla de la importancia del contexto; habla de la importancia de entender las distintas narrativas existentes en cualquier tipo de ecosistema en los que participen personas; habla de cuándo se puede aspirar a encontrar la "mejor manera de hacer"; cuándo puedes simplemente aspirar a encontrar "una buena manera de hacer" o cuándo simplemente tienes que probar cosas para ver cómo alteran el ecosistema y ayudar a descubrir las dinámicas del mismo, hacia dónde tiene disposición a moverse dicho ecosistema...

Y lo mejor de todo es que, no puedo evitar pensar que Cynefin puede ser lo más parecido a una "pastilla mágica" a la hora de intentar empezar a entender cualquier tipo de situación que quieras empezar a entender.

Brillante y sumamente inspirador.

[Kirsty Keddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been aware of the Cynefin framework for sometime and seen it used usefully in the field of CI but have never been fully aware of its origins. I thought this book may be a good induction but it is more of a celebration of the evolving framework and it’s grand master. The introduction to the model by Snowdin himself is difficult to understand as it contains no examples. The following chapters, written in varying styles, provide mini case studies in how others have applied it. Because the model and it’s language has changed over time and deliberately intellectual terms have been used, some of the chapters are more insightful than others. One has to deduce how the model works from the more useful stories.
Not a beginners guide!

[Robert Bogue]

It was years ago in the subterranean conference center of a hotel in Washington, DC when I met Dave Snowden. He had a keynote speaking slot as well as a workshop. I had some breakout session that I had managed to get. I was speaking with a friend when I used the word “curmudgeon” to refer to my office manager, and I could visibly see Dave’s ears perk up at the next table. I convinced him to have a conversation with me the next day and via Skype some months later.

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[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a collection of various essays, while some are interesting, others are not.

I enjoyed the introduction on how Cynefin was created. It gave a good understanding on what Dave Snowden did and how his ideas gained traction. The essay by Liz Keogh resonated well with me and has some good points. The most interesting part for me is the comparison of Cynefin and the Theory of Constraints. That essay got me thinking and it extends my book list a lot.

Unfortunately , the other essays where not up to that level and are easy to forget.

[Arsen Lazursky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. If you're looking for new ways of change management and better decision making - go no further. This is simply next level. Yes it is complex, no, it does not provide clear answers, but it's truly thought-provoking in a very literal sense. It makes you change the way you think about things and gives a whole new perspective. It also encourages work and further research, but in a very compelling and exciting way. Consider this a nudge towards changing your context in way that would enable more good things happening.

[Tuija Aalto · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extended birthday card to the Cynefin framework, and an hommage to its founding father David Snowden, this book is more a picture of a tightly interwowen community of practitioners than an intoduction to a valuable decision support theory. If you are familiar with the Cynefin model, you will enjoy these personal narratives, if you aren’t, you`re better off getting to know this branch of complexity theory online first.

[Tadd Rosenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

You must read every paragraph multiple times to understand Cynefin. But you’ll feel even more peaceful and love every word and phrase completely when you do. They’re nectar for intellectual hunger. Extraordinary.

[Quinton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

A collection of articles and stories - none particularly interesting or deep. No new insights into Cynefin to be made here. Word bloat. If you're a newbie and want to learn Cynefin, don't start here.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend Garvey Berger's 2017 video that introduces the complexity of the Cynefin framework before reading this. Maybe also find Dave Snowden talking about it but he's very dry and academic. Fascinating way of looking at systems and change.

[Altuğ Bilgin Altıntaş · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories are good, some of them are nonsense. 

[Víctor Gómez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un framework interesante

[Michael Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magisterial exposition

Inspired, nuanced, and comprehensive inquiry into the principal concern of our times: Complexity that dips in and out of chaos and confusion.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. What a slog.

[Özmen Adıbelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are OK with relentless similar compliments for Dave from each writer, you could enjoy a lot by learninh how Cynefin concept can be useful.

[Jack Vinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

happy birthday and many wishes for the future

Cynefin is 21 years old (and then some) and has influenced many people. This book is a collection of stories and insights and thinking about the concepts. I enjoyed reading most of the segments, and discovered a few new insights and pathways to follow coming out of the book.

More details from my blog: https://www.jackvinson.com/blog/2021/...

[JULIO A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely crucial to understand reality and find ways of navigating complex adaptive systems to enable beneficial, sustainable and inclusive change. A must-read