Leaders who understand that the world is often irrational and unpredictable will find (this) framework particularly useful.
David J. Snowden and Mary E. Boone
takeaways of note:
Identify which context you’re in to not only make better decisions, but also avoid the problems that arise when a preferred management style may lead to mistakes in life’s varying situations…
Simple Contexts …the domain of Best Practice – the right answer is self-evident & undisputed. Allows straightforward management & monitoring; leaders sense, categorize, & respond; decisions can be easily delegated & functions automated
Complicated Contexts …the domain of Experts – requires investigating several options because there are multiple right answers and not everyone can see the clear cause & effects. Reaching decisions often take much time, and a trade-off is needed between finding the right answer & simply making a decision.
Complex Contexts …the domain of Emergence – right answers cannot even be known, can only be understood and patterns can only be identified in retrospect. Requires a more experimental mode of management (avoid temptation to fall back into traditional command-&-control styles)
Chaotic Contexts …the domain of Rapid Response – can’t even discover patterns just need to stanch the bleeding. First act to establish order, then sense where stability is present & where it is absent, and finally transform the situation from chaos to complex.