Simplifying Complexity In conversation with Dave Snowden
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Aug 4, 2025 
Dave Snowden, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of The Cynefin Company, dives into the complexities of organizational management. He discusses the Cynefin Framework, emphasizing how it helps leaders navigate ordered, complex, and chaotic systems. The conversation also critiques traditional systems thinking and explores the impact of AI on decision-making. Snowden draws parallels between nature's swarming bees and human adaptability, highlighting the role of diverse perspectives in problem-solving and the importance of understanding crew dynamics in high-pressure environments.
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Stopping Internal Fraud Creatively
- Dave Snowden caught electrical engineers defrauding their company with fake taxi fares.
- He and the financial director created a clever environment change to deter fraud without costly disciplinary actions.
Systems as States of Matter
- Systems can be ordered, complex, or chaotic like solid, liquid, or gas.
- Managing systems means understanding these states and their transitions.
Wisdom of Crowds Principle
- Wisdom of crowds works when people don't communicate during evaluation.
- This prevents influence and yields objective consensus quickly.
