Dave Snowden’s Assess-Adapt-Exapt-Transcend Framework for Managing in Complexity and Chaos

In managing complexity and chaos, it is important to consider context sensitivity. Different contexts require different approaches. The assess stage is about determining if a crisis is present or not and implementing top-down management if necessary. Transitioning into the adapt stage involves addressing complicated issues by leveraging experts and running trials to test coherent hypotheses. Building dense informal networks and mapping knowledge at the right level of granularity are crucial in the xapt stage to foster innovation and find new uses for existing resources. Lastly, the transcend stage emphasizes that transformation is an emergent property of other actions taken throughout the process.