Cynefin, created by Dave Snowden, is a sense-making framework that sorts situations into five domains — Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, and Disorder — each with a different cause-and-effect relationship. It helps choose the right response, from applying best practice in ordered domains to probing and experimenting in the complex one.

Cynefin Framework

Details
Full Name

Cynefin Framework according to Dave Snowden

Also known as

Cynefin sensemaking framework

Core Concepts:

Five domains
Clear (formerly "Simple")

Best practices apply, sense-categorize-respond

Complicated

Good practices exist, sense-analyze-respond

Complex

Emergent practices, probe-sense-respond

Chaotic

Novel practices needed, act-sense-respond

Confused (center)

Don’t know which domain you’re in

Domain transitions

How situations move between domains

Safe-to-fail probes

Experiments in complex domain

Complacency risk

Moving from clear to chaotic

Decision-making context

Different domains require different approaches

Facilitation tool

Helps teams discuss and categorize challenges

Key Proponents

Dave Snowden (1999)

When to Use:

  • Understanding what type of problem you’re facing

  • Choosing appropriate decision-making approaches

  • Facilitating team discussions about complexity

  • Strategic planning in uncertain environments