The Cynefin framework helps make sense of when and why we use different design methods - e.g. When is up-front research essential and when is it overkill? When can we simply iterate our way to a solution?
Cynefin also helps explain how different UX strategies like lean and agile relate to each other, and why designers sometimes lead and sometimes follow the rest of the team.
+ Now with bonus slide mapping Daniel Dennett's intentional stance theory to Cynefin domains
Presented at DesignTech Paris, March 2017
2. JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Should:
✓ Help you understand the situation
you’re in, and how to respond
effectively
✓ Help you decide which design
methods to use
Should not:
Be a specific technique
Be inflexible - “one-size fits all”
is a “logic of design methods”
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
COMPLEXITY AS A
DESIGN METHODOLOGY
a “logic of methods” based on the
kind of complexity we’re dealing with
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JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
CYNEFIN
Pronounced Ki-ney-fin
Welsh for “a place where you feel at home”
A framework for characterising different kinds of complexity
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Image source: https://i.imgur.com/XRhkKaz.jpg
Dave Snowden
(IBM/Cognitive Edge)
“Cynefin is a
Sense-Making
Framework”
8. MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY 03.2017
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
9. 03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
ORDEREDUNORDERED
MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
“Patterns are temporary and unpredictable” “Things happen for a reason”
“Retrospective coherence” “Cause and effect”
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Is this a real pattern
or just a projection?
We’re often pessimistic
about unordered domains
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Image source: https://i.imgur.com/XRhkKaz.jpg
“Learning to
recognize and appreciate the domain
of unorder is liberating,
because we can stop applying
methods designed for order
and instead focus on
legitimate methods that work well in
un-ordered situations.”
- Dave Snowden
12. MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY 03.2017
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
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JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
• Cause and effect is clear
• Behaviour is predictable
• Clear options / standard responses
• “Best practice” dominates
• Process-based decision-making
OBVIOUS
14. 03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
COMPLICATED • Causes and effects are hard to see
• Problems are solvable, but require
specialist knowledge
• Competing models, heuristics
• Look for elegant solutions, not
necessarily perfect ones
• Decision-making by consensus
among experts
15. 03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
COMPLEX• Un-ordered, evolving
• Cause and effect aren’t clear
• Perceive only emerging patterns
• Can’t control outcomes directly
• Leaders must be adaptable
• Entrepreneurs vs bureaucrats
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CHAOS• No perceivable order
• Dangerously unstable
• Response time is critical
• Crisis management
• Authoritarian leadership
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OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
BEST PRACTICE
EXPERTISE
RAPID RESPONSE
EMERGENCE
CATEGORISE
ANALYZE
STABILISE
PROBE — RESPONDSENSE —
— RESPONDSENSE —
— SENSE — RESPOND
— SENSE — RESPOND
18. MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY 03.2017
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
Collapse
/ Breakdown
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
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JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
CARE
PRESCRIPTION
TRIAGE
DIAGNOSTICS
Collapse
/ Acute Event
Medical
Treatment
“Stop the bleeding”
“Test to understand” “Set a course of treatment”
“Treat and monitor the patient”
REMIX
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OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
USABILITY TESTING
IX DESIGN
BRAND CRISIS
USER RESEARCH
REMIX
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JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
USABILITY TESTING
IX DESIGN
BRAND CRISIS
USER RESEARCH
REMIX
25. MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY 03.2017
JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
VALIDATE
PROTOTYPE
HELPDESK
CUSTOMER VALUE
LEAN
Innovation
AGILE
Improvement
CX
Immunisation
REMIX
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LEADERS
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
CATEGORISE
ANALYZE
ACT
PROBE
REMIXTEAM MEMBERS
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
• Decide between methods
• Decide what sort of role to play
• Understand our strengths and
weaknesses
• Broaden our relevance to our
organisation
• Be more proactive about risk on
large projects
We can use the Cynefin framework to:
CYNEFIN AS A
DESIGN METHODOLOGY
28. JUSTINTAUBER.COM | @BRTRX
03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
• Annotating wireframes for a
development team
• Testing an existing site to identify
usability problems
• Conducting a series of design
thinking workshops to identify
new service opportunities
• A/B testing designs for a checkout
process
• Conducting a card sort
• Testing a new navigation design
• Running a product design sprint
• Developing personas for an
intranet redesign
Which domain is your Cynefin, your natural home?
Where do these scenarios belong?
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
CYNEFIN FRAMEWORK (C) COGNITIVE EDGE
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
BEST PRACTICE
EXPERTISE
RAPID RESPONSE
EMERGENCE
SENSE - CATEGORIZE - RESPOND
SENSE - ANALYZE - RESPOND
ACT - SENSE - RESPOND
PROBE - SENSE - RESPOND
CARE
PRESCRIPTION
TRIAGE
DIAGNOSIS
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03.2017MANAGING COMPLEXITY - A TOTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Thanks
Justin Tauber
Email: justin@justintauber.com
Web: justintauber.com
Medium: @brtrx
* Returning to Sydney May 2017
Further reading on Cynefin:
Dave Snowden’s company Cognitive Edge
A Leader's Framework for Decision Making (HBR)
Complex Acts of Knowing (Snowden 2002)
Image credits:
Cross by Zaff Studio from the Noun Project
a ginormous flock of birds by jeromebettis (imgur)
Airplane by Valery from the Noun Project
geese by Sarah JOY from the Noun Project
Billiards by parkjisun from the Noun Project
forest fire by Peter van Driel from the Noun Project
Dave Snowden speaking at UX Brighton 2016 by UX Brighton (via Wikipedia)
#totaldesign
@brtrx
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PHYSICAL STANCE
DESIGN STANCE
POLITICAL STANCE
INTENTIONAL STANCE
OBVIOUS
COMPLICATED
CHAOS
COMPLEX
Respond based on known forces and configurations
Respond based on assumed roles & functions
Respond based on perceived power relations
Respond based on assumed beliefs and desires
“What will happen next?”
“How does it work?”“What is it trying to achieve?”
“Is it friend or foe?”
BONUS! Daniel Dennett’s STANCES mapped onto the Cynefin domains
NEW