How do we resolve all our organisational challenges?

CYNEFIN FRAMEWORK

I have been conversing and running workshops about organisational problem solving approaches to find solutions to challenges we all face as human beings on this planet for decades now. The Cynefin Framework is one such approach that I believe helps. Indeed, the framework would be a great filter for many of our current issues and challenges in politics, environment, mining, jobs and the social and human challenges of survival in many communities. This framework will be explained as part of an upcoming Canberra workshop this week, as well as the Brisbane workshop next week. If you are wanting to know more, email me: [email protected]

One of the contemporary models for dealing with cultural change such as the climate change challenges, resolving the dilemmas about jobs and mining and the reduction of carbon, global warming, infrastructure, roads and transport in choked up city traffic, services in health and education and many other problems is to look at it through special lenses. Making change interventions in a systematic, clever way by utilising the thinking expressed by the Cynefin framework for decision making introduced back in 2007 by David Snowden and Mary Boone is one such way.

Managers and leaders utilise approaches that work well in one set of circumstances but fall short in others. Why do these fail? Assuming there are no hidden agendas- there are often some, the answer lies in a fundamental assumption of organisational theory and practice: that a certain level of predictability and order exists in the world. This assumption, grounded in the Newtonian science that underlies scientific management, encourages simplifications that are useful in ordered circumstances. Circumstances change, however, and as they become more complex, the simplifications can fail. Look around at the contemporary problems we all face in the world today.

Good leadership is not a one-size fits-all proposition. A lot of people think and act as though it is. Irrespective of who "won" and who 'lost" the last elections in Australia- I believe we all "lost" because we still have not faced up to really looking into getting the right solutions. We are paper-ing over the cracks and looking at simple so-called solutions for all sorts of political agendas. This is a recipe for travelling backwards. This failure of solution finding, simplified what are basically quite complex reasons why people vote for certain parties and what it means to be "human" and to "survive" and "live". The analyses even now is somewhat simplistic and does not look through the lenses of complexity.

Change managers must help leaders of all varieties and persuasions and our everyday, ordinary people broaden the traditional approach to leadership and decision making to form a new perspective based on complexity science. As Snowden and Boone tell us, the principles of complexity science have been applied to governments and a broad range of industries from which the Cyne?n framework, helping leaders to see things from new viewpoints, assimilate complex concepts, and address real-world problems and opportunities has been successful. Cynefin signifies the multiple factors in our environment and our experiences that influence us in ways we need to understand, beyond the simple, quick, superficial politically easy responses. 

The framework sorts the issues facing leaders into five contexts defined by the nature of the relationship between cause and effect. Four of these—simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic—require leaders to diagnose situations and to act in contextually appropriate ways. The fifth—disorder—applies when it is unclear which of the other four contexts is predominant. 

Using the Cyne?n framework can help executives sense which context they are in so that they can not only make better decisions but also avoid the problems that arise when their preferred management style causes them to make mistakes. …

Leaders who understand that the world is often irrational and unpredictable will find the Cyne?n framework particularly useful. 

Come along to my workshops, the next one in Canberra on Friday 14th June at Yellow Edge in Barton;

and, then I am presenting in Brisbane on June 21st at Exclaim IT offices in Creek Street in Brisbane City.

?Email me if you want to come along and register for the conversation.

And, in the week of August 5th to 9th in Brisbane and October we have workshops on

• Leadership through Chaos and Complexity,
• Developing Positive Cultures in your workplace and
• Becoming an Effective Facilitator through all contemporary challenges;

Papua New Guinea beginning in the week of the 19th August and

Canberra in the week of the 14th October. Other cities are also involved.

Email me for information: [email protected] or Call: 0417524303

It is time for smart action! Let's not just meander along anymore.

Our managerial and leadership contexts need momentum and "smarts". Let's do it!