Leaders Talk - Better Leadership. Better Organizations. Better World Ep. 79: Dave Snowden, how to make sense of a complex world?
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Dec 1, 2023 
Renowned methodologist Dave Snowden explores the Cynefin Framework, sense-making in org settings, limitations of system thinking, and the influence of Caravaggio's art. He discusses putting theories into action, 'The Sense Maker,' and the future of organizational leadership.
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IBM and DARPA
- Dave Snowden's company was unexpectedly acquired by IBM, leading to a research role focused on upsetting powerful people.
- This role involved exploring knowledge management, decision mapping, and narrative, eventually attracting DARPA's attention.
Cynefin's Origins
- The Cynefin framework originated from knowledge management, observing that informal networks hold more value and lower energy costs than formal systems.
- It evolved over 20 years, integrating complexity theory and emphasizing dynamics between order, complexity, and chaos.
North Atlantic Thinking
- North Atlantic thinking, with its focus on the individual, leads to rigid processes and reliance on 'inspired' leaders.
- This contrasts with communitarian cultures that prioritize community over individual, offering a different approach to leadership.