Reflections on the Cynefin Framework
After reading the
article “A leader’s framework for decision making” from the Harvard Business
Review, I have found three ways in which the Cynefin Framework can help a
leader think more critically. One, it can help a leader develop new
perspectives 2) it can help a leader embrace complexity and 3) it can help a
leader address real-world problems. Given the fact that all situations are
different form one another, it is important for a leader to be able to classify
each situation in relation to the four categories identified in the Cynefin
Framework: Simple, Complicated, Complex and Chaotic. By understanding the categories
within the Cynefin Framework, leaders can identify the context of the problem,
and began to determine how to handle it.
For example: one complex
problem that I had to deal with was when I found out my sister was pregnant.
Being that my sister is only 20 years old, has not finished school, and has yet
to make a life for herself, I became overwhelmed. Unfortunately, situations
like this are normal in my family and for some reason, they always seem to run to
me for help. However, this problem was not so easy to solve. I knew that the
decision to keep the baby was not mine to make. So instead, I did what any
rational sister would do; I gave my sister all of her options. As I began to
probe my sister’s reaction, I could sense that she did not want to have an
abortion or give the baby up for adoption; she had every intention on keeping
the baby. Once I knew of her intentions, I responded by helping her prepare for
the hard, difficult life ahead of her.
Another example I can
use to demonstrate a category within the Cynefin Framework, would be I can
across the following complicated situation. While working at Security Financial
Management, I was offered the job of Assistant Investment Representative, when
the current Assistant Investment Representative decided to resign. Well, due to
the fact that I was a full time student at the time, I felt the job would
hinder my ability to make good grades; thus, I declined the offer. However, it
wasn’t until the new Assistant Investment Representative was hired that I knew
I had made a mistake; I instantly became jealous of her, angry that she was
making more money than me for a job that I was training her how to do.
Well,
let’s just say that my anger got the best of me and I sent her a spiteful
email, in response to the documents she put on my desk. The email message went
something like this… “I expect you to complete the documents before you hand
them to me for imaging”. Right after I sent the email, I knew it wasn’t going
to go over well, and, just as I though it didn’t. The next day, I could since
that she was mad or confused about the meaning of my email. However, before I
could talk to her about my feelings, I had to analyze the situation and
determine the reason behind why I felt the way I did. Once I gathered my thoughts,
I approached her and asked her “if she was mad at me”. Oh course, she said no,
but then began to question the intent of my email. As we began talking, I
explained that I was jealous and upset at myself for declining the position. As
I expressed myself, she began to understand my position and forgave me; to this
day, we are still really good friends.
Just as a mentions in
this week’s discussion board, the easy solutions are not always the best solutions
when it comes to making difficult, life altering decisions. Sometimes, it is beneficial
to step back and analyze the situation before responding. In other situations, “searching for the
right answer can become pointless: whereas, the relationship between the cause
and effect is simply unattainable” (Shuck, 2013). In any situation, it
is helpful to gain an understanding the context of the situation in order to
improve one’s decision making. As a point of reference, I have listed 5 ways in
which the Cynefin
Framework has help me improve my decisions:
- Don’t underestimate complexity – meaning, don’t assume that thing are easy, just because they appear to be.
- Understand your constraints – if the information is not there, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Think outside of the box – use your imagination to explore your options.
- Self-Mediate – set aside time for reflection
- Prepare for uncertainty – don’t get bogged down when you cannot find a solution.
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