2A105: Managing complexity (and chaos) in times of crisis with Dave Snowden

This is a special, one-time event from Systems & Complex Adaptive Thinking group. For more events like this, go to - https://www.meetup.com/systems-and-complex-adaptive-thinking/

Basics of complexity in human systems

• differences with systems thinking
• differences with computational complexity and modeling
• how do you scale a complex system?
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  The theory applied ….

This publication is a shared effort between the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, and the Cynefin Centre. It aims to provide sense-making support to the European policymaking process.

This field guide helps to navigate crises using the Cynefin framework as a compass. It proposes a four-stage approach through which we can:
assess the type of crisis and initiate a response; adapt to the new pace and start building sensing networks to inform decisions; repurpose existing structures and working methods to generate radical innovation; transcend the crisis, formalize lessons learned and increase resilience.

The field guide stresses the importance of setting and managing boundaries, building informal structures, keeping options open, distributing engagement, and keeping an ongoing assessment of the evolving landscape.

Action items, real-life examples, and demonstrations complement the references to the developing theoretical framework.

Bibliographic Information:
Snowden, D. and Rancati, A., Managing complexity (and chaos) in times of crisis. A field guide for decision makers inspired by the Cynefin framework, Smith, B., Snowden, E., Winthagen, V., Andriani, P. and Caspari, A. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2020, JRC123629.

About the Speaker -
Dave Snowden is CSO & Founder of Cognitive Edge and Director of the Cynefin Centre. He has pioneered a science based approach to organisations drawing on anthropology, neuroscience and complex adaptive systems theory. 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.