Dave Snowden

Jim talks with Dave Snowden about the document he co-authored, "Managing Complexity (And Chaos) In Times of Crisis." They discuss the Cynefin framework, its development into a complexity-informed framework, distinguishing complex from complicated, emergence, enabling constraints vs governing constraints, openness in complex systems, short-term teleology vs top-down causality, lines of flight, six sigma, Taylorism, distributed decision-making, the meaning of crisis, preparing for unknowable unknowns, plagues & heat deaths, false learnings of Covid, the order of origin of language & semiotics, building informal networks, exaptation, the right level of granularity, setting Draconian constraints, preserving optionality, anticipatory thinking, comprehensive journaling, LLMs & the recent open letter, the need for ethical awareness, scales of group decision-making, documenters & doers, the aporetic, Covid as a boon to complexity work, cadence vs velocity, ritual in American football, designing strategic interventions with stories, vector theory of change, constructor theory, making the cost of virtue less than the cost of sin, dispositional management, an upcoming book, and much more. Episode Transcript JRS EP11 - Dave Snowden and Systems Thinking "Managing complexity (and chaos) in times of crisis," by Dave Snowden and others The Emergence of Everything: How the World Became Complex, by Harold J. Morowitz JRS EP138 - W. Brian Arthur on the Nature of Technology JRS EP143 - John Vervaeke Part 1: Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Dave Snowden divides his time between two roles: founder Chief Scientific Officer of Cognitive Edge and the founder and Director of the Centre for Applied Complexity at the University of Wales. His work is international in nature and covers government and industry looking at complex issues relating to strategy, organisational decision making and decision making. He has pioneered a science based approach to organisations drawing on anthropology, neuroscience and complex adaptive systems theory. He is a popular and passionate keynote speaker on a range of subjects, and is well known for his pragmatic cynicism and iconoclastic style.

Dave Snowden, a leading expert in complexity theory, dives into the intricacies of decision-making in uncertain environments. He explains the Cynefin Framework, emphasizing its role in contextualizing complex challenges. Snowden critiques traditional decision-making approaches and advocates for innovative, hypothesis-driven strategies. He also explores the interplay of technology and human judgment, advocating for a balance between the two. Additionally, he discusses the importance of narrative and diverse perspectives in navigating complexity, offering insights that enhance organizational adaptability.

Send us a textDave Snowden is the creator of the Cynefin Framework and originated the design of SenseMaker®, the world’s first distributed ethnography tool. He is the lead author of Managing Complexity (and Chaos) in Times of Crisis: A Field Guide for Decision-makers, a shared effort between the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, and the Cynefin Centre.Mark, Ponch, and Dave have a wide ranging talk about Dave’s work and its connection to the work and theories of John Boyd.Be sure to use the Chapters Feature on Apple and Spotify to quickly browse and navigate to segments of this episode.//Dave Snowden and links to his work//Dave Snowden BiographyDave Snowden SensemakerCynefin Workshops//Books and briefs mentioned in this episode//"The New Killer App: The OODA Loop and Cynefin Framework"  –  by Brian Rivera How the Leopard Changed Its Spots  –  by Brian GoodwinCynefin: Weaving Sense-Making into the Fabric of Our World  –  by Dave Snowden Grammatical Man, Information, Entropy, Language, and Life  –  by Jeremy CampbellCybernetics  –  by F. H. George//Theories mentioned in this episode//The Cynefin Framework//The Papers of John R. Boyd//John R. Boyd Collection, COLL/2949, Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA.Flow Learning Lab Find us on X. @NoWayOutcast Substack: The Whirl of ReOrientation Want to develop your organization’s capacity for free and independent action (Organic Success)? Learn more and follow us at:https://www.aglx.com/https://www.youtube.com/@AGLXConsultinghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/aglx-consulting-llc/https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandriverahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/markjmcgrath1https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemccroneStay in the Loop. Don't have time to listen to the podcast? Want to make some snowmobiles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive deeper insights on current and past episodes.Recent podcasts where you’ll also find Mark and Ponch: The No Bell Podcast Episode 24...

Dave Snowden, the creator of the Cynefin Framework and expert in complexity science, shares his insights on navigating modern educational challenges. He critiques rigid educational norms, advocating for a dynamic and collective approach to learning. The conversation delves into the intricate interplay between anthropology and education, calling for a deeper understanding of social contexts in teaching. Snowden also examines the impact of AI on education, emphasizing the necessity of human engagement, creativity, and adaptability in fostering effective learning environments.

Dave Snowden is the founder and chief officer of Cognitive Edge. He is a pioneer in the field of complexity science and sensemaking, and is perhaps best known for developing the Cynefin framework as a sensemaking device for decision-makers. In this conversation, we talk about Neo-Darwinism, the trouble with specialisation, why democracy is failing, radical sacrifice, and much more. Dave blogs here: https://thecynefin.co/author/dave-snowden/ You can find more out about Cognitive Edge here: https://www.cognitive-edge.com/ We discussed: ‘A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making’ (with Mary E. Boone), Harvard Business Review, Nov 2007: https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making

In this episode, Mik is joined by Dave Snowden, CSO & Founder of Cognitive Edge and Director of the Cynefin Center. In this episode, Mik and Dave talk about the development of Cynefin, a framework for decision making, and other key topics including: The Cynefin framework and some of the existing methodologies and techniques that have been developed Examples of things that have gone in the wrong direction as a result of not understanding some of the first principles The best practices for technology leaders to identify and thrive through chaotic events or chaotic environments Guidance on how to take aspects of each framework and put them together in different combinations Advice on how to approach the Cynefin framework at various levels of leadership Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com For more information about Dave Snowden and to view the full list of resources featured in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/dave-snowden/

In this episode of The Thinking Leader, Bryce Hoffman and Marcus Dimbleby talk with Dave Snowden, father of the Cynefin framework and Founder of The Cynefin Company.   They discuss Dave’s latest addition to the Cynefin framework, Estuarine Mapping. Dave talks about Estuarine Mapping’s roots in the constructor theory of quantum mechanics, as well as its strong basis in philosophy and biology. Estuarine Mapping breaks down management into constraints and constructors, emphasizing the flows of possibility in any system.   Dave also gives his opinion on Agile and how it has entered a commodification phase, particularly due to the introduction of SAFe. Bryce, Marucs, and Dave talk about the benefits of the different methodologies of Agile, how the Cynefin framework fits into Agile, and the future of Agile.   In this episode: What is Estuarine Mapping and how it fits into the Cynefin ecosystem How to enable and govern your constraints to work for you How SAFe has caused the commodification of Agile Why companies don't always take the right path   Listen to Dave’s previous appearance on the show: https://www.redteamthinking.com/podcasts/the-thinking-leader/episodes/2147722270    Read Dave’s EU manual here: https://op.europa.eu/s/yIv5    Sign up to the Red Team Thinking Community - Use the coupon code THINKINGLEADER for a free 30-day trial: https://community.redteamthinking.com/checkout/general-membership    Want to find out if you’re a Red Team Thinker? Click here to take a free assessment and get your personalized report: https://www.redteamthinking.com/rttassessment    Visit our website: https://redteamthinking.com   Watch this episode on YouTube: www.red-team.tv    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redteamthinking/  Connect with Bryce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycehoffman/  Connect with Marcus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusdimbleby/    Bestselling business author Bryce Hoffman and agility expert Marcus Dimbleby talk about decision making, strategy, resilience and leadership with some of the world’s best CEOs, cognitive scientists, writers, and thinkers in this weekly podcast. Each episode offers new ideas and insights you can use to become a better leader and a better thinker – because bad leaders react, good leaders plan, and great leaders think!

Dave Snowden is Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cognitive Edge. His work is international in nature and covers government and industry looking at complex issues relating to strategy and organizational decision-making. He has pioneered a science-based approach to organizations drawing on anthropology, neuroscience, and complex adaptive systems theory. He is a popular and passionate keynote speaker on a range of subjects, and is well-known for his pragmatic cynicism and iconoclastic style. Dave holds visiting Chairs at the Universities of Pretoria and Hong Kong Polytechnic University as well as a visiting fellowship at the University of Warwick. He is a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies at Nanyang University and the Civil Service College in Singapore. Introduction to Dave Snowden and Cynefin 13 minutes Complicated vs. Complex + Apex Predator Theory 14 minutes Agent-Based Modeling + "Anticipatory Triggers" 9 minutes Artificial Intelligence + Chomsky Bashing 9 minutes Practical Applications for Managers 9 minutes Downward Causality + Red Team 6 minutes SenseMaker Software 6 minutes Mapping the Present 8 minutes Transcripts for The Jim Rutt Show featuring Dave Snowden Keynames this Episode: Jim Rutt, Dave Snowden, Santa Fe Institute, SFI, Cognitive Edge, Cynefin, SenseMaker, University of Pretoria, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Warwick, IBM, DARPA, Harvard Business Review, HBR, Stuart Koffman, Walter Freeman, Ralph Stacey, Luis Lobo-Guerrero, David Chandler, René Thom, Clayton Christensen, Extinction Rebellion, Thomson-Reuters, Murray Gell-Man, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Vilfredo Pareto, Nassim Taleb, David Wolpert, Gary Marcus, Ben Goertzel, Josh Tenenbaum, Ogletree Deakins, Noam Chomsky, Jacques Lacan, Ayn Rand, "Nudge", "Thinking, Fast and Slow", Daniel Kahneman, Baxter, VECO, Rikolto, Myers-Briggs, Andy Clark Keywords this Episode: Jim Rutt, Dave Snowden, audio, podcast, interview, decision-making, strategy, design, knowledge management, business management, process engineering, management science, complexity, cognitive neuroscience, order, chaos, disorder, constrained, enabling constraints, competence induced failure, symbiosis, populism, Ebola, contagion, Apex Predator, global warming, Hong Kong protests, China strategy, coevolutionary fitness landscapes, agent-based model, simulation, correlation, causation, downward causality, Gaussian distribution, Pareto distribution, artificial intelligence, AI, general artificial intelligence, AGI, symbolic AI, deep learning, anticipatory triggers, counterterrorism, 9/11, No Free Lunch Theorem, Alpha Go, abstraction, epigenetics, intelligence, autism, evolutionary biology, philosophy of mind, behavioral economics, diversity, dissent, red team, narrative, business scan, employee survey, employee evaluation, employee review, assessments, 360-degree assessments, cultural evolution, agile development, Six Sigma, astrology

Lately various voices have been raised in critique of adult development models, and the way coaches implement them in their work with clients. In this conversation with management consultant and researcher Dave Snowden we explore some of the fundamental issues with models of adult development, how more fluid stories of self can be more constructive in facilitating change and Dave’s complexity science-based approach to coaching. Dave Snowden is a management consultant and researcher in the field of knowledge management and the application of complexity science. Known for the development of the Cynefin framework, he is the founder and chief scientific officer of Cognitive Edge, a Singapore-based management consulting firm specializing in complexity and sensemaking. He has authored several articles and book chapters on the Cynefin framework and the role of complexity in sensemaking. → Our live online coach training “The Neuroscience of Change” starts September 29th 2022 ← Visit coachesrising.com to see our acclaimed online coach trainings and other offerings.

Welcome to another episode of The Thinking Leader podcast, brought to you by Red Team Thinking. In this episode, your host Bryce Hoffman talks to Dave Snowden about how a four-stage approach can help leaders better manage complexity and why smaller, adaptive systems initiate change to improve your position. Dave Snowden is a world-renowned expert in the field of knowledge management who is most famous for creating the Cynefin framework. He is the founder and chief scientific officer for Cognitive Edge, a consulting firm specializing in complexity and sensemaking, and is also the author of several publications, including Managing Complexity and Chaos in Times of Crisis, recently published in conjunction with the European Union. Top 10 Takeaways: [2:38] The role of the leader in times of crisis. [6:19] Constraints are the only thing you can manage in a complex system. [9:20] Trioptican and the benefits of creating a human sensor network to act faster. [12:00] The Cynefin Framework – what it is and where it comes from. [16:15] Distinctions between Complexity and Systems Thinking leadership styles. [20:55] The problem with big consulting companies. [27:27] Can processes change culture? [30:15] A complexity-based approach to design thinking. [31:17] Bryce and Dave talk about how companies can respond to negative publicity. [38:19] How do you get leaders to move beyond short-term thinking? Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Red Team Thinking Managing Complexity and Chaos in Times of Crisis, by Dave Snowden The Cynefin Centre Cognitive Edge