Description
Understanding complexity is vital for thriving in today’s ever-changing world, and this requires sense-making; the ability to understand and react appropriately to different contexts. The Cynefin Company provides tools for decision support, distributed engagement and collective sense-making in any field of practice where anthro-complexity (the complexity inherent in human systems) exists. Our approaches promote deep, inclusive engagement and evidence-informed decision-making in diverse contexts.
This 2-day Advanced Cynefin & Sense-making programme offers a deep dive into our theory, practice and tools. Participants will build a deeper understanding of complex environments, a language for working with complex challenges, and a set of methods to improve collective sense-making, including SenseMaker® applications.
The workshop will touch on all seven Cynefin Co frameworks, namely:
- The Cynefin framework
- Estuarine framework and Estuarine Mapping
- Flexeous Curves framework (originally Apex Predator)
- The Uncertainty matrices – emphasise various forms and levels of knowability
- 3 As, Agency, Affordance and Assemblage – critical tools for change
- ASHEN – designed for KM, adopted for leadership and understanding organisations
- AIMS – what you can manage in a complex system: Actants, Interactions, Monitors, and Scaffolding
Format – Advanced Training
This format will include elements of lecture (sharing knowledge and ideas), workshop and discussion, and facilitated exercises in small groups, to experience methods and put principles into practice. The workshop group will not exceed 30 participants to ensure individual engagement.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
We begin by exploring the context of complexity and the Cynefin framework, laying a foundation for practice. Having set the foundation, we shift focus to the world of complexity-based practice, diving into ways of working in the Complex domain and exploring new approaches, tools, methods and processes that support them.
SENSE-MAKING, MANAGING & LEADING IN COMPLEXITY
Explore the challenges and opportunities of complexity and particularly anthro-complexity and how this impacts on decision-making and collective action. Understand what you can, and can’t manage in complexity and direct your efforts more effectively. Discover three key actions aligned to the EU Field Guide that you can take at multiple levels in ordinary times, to better prepare for the unexpected and to thrive in crisis.
FORESIGHT, STRATEGY AND DIRECTION IN UNCERTAINTY
Reflect on sensemaking and strategy with the three key frameworks: Cynefin, Flexuous Curves and Estuarine Mapping. Unpack and experience a set of tools and techniques to manage complex systems and effectively anticipate the unknown ‘unknowables’ in planning and foresight. Unpack the vector theory of change and the implications for how we integrate reflection and data-driven sense-making into engagement and participation.
ESTUARINE MAPPING
Gain hands-on experience with Estuarine Mapping, the Cynefin Co’s new approach to mapping your current reality and discovering strategic possibilities, affordances and options. Including Constructors, Counterfactuals, new-generation Constraints methods, and exploring how Estuarine Mapping can be supported by SenseMaker applications for large-scale interventions.
NARRATIVE PRACTICE AND SENSEMAKER APPLICATIONS
Dive into abductive and narrative-based practices and the tools to support them, exploring methods including Human Sensor Networks, Informal Networks and Entangled Trios. Explore the complex, rich insights and processes made possible by the blending of qualitative and quantitative data in newer SenseMaker applications – such as interactive continuous feedback technology, GENBA-style dynamic collectors, and more…
COMPLEX FACILITATION AND CYNEFIN CO HEXI KITS
Explore the role of consultant/facilitator in complex facilitation and intervention approaches, and the application of complex facilitation principles from project conceptualisation and design, not only in workshops. Experience the Cynefin Co hexi packs, including the latest 2024 updates to this facilitation toolkit. Note: no hexi kit is required to participate in the workshop, shared kits will be supplied for practice purposes.
Who is this course for?
Target audience: Strategy officers, change and Org/Community Development practitioners, leaders and managers, business coaches, innovation managers, program/project managers, risk and compliance leaders, team leads – or anyone dealing with anthro-complexity in their work.
This workshop is recommended for both existing practitioners and those who are new to our work. Preparatory resources will be provided for those who are new to Cynefin and Dave Snowden’s writings and talks.
