The Cynefin Framework is a sense-making model that categorizes situations into five domains:

• Clear: Cause-and-effect relationships exist. Best practices and standard operating procedures are effective.
• Complicated: Cause-and-effect relationships can be determined through analysis. Multiple right answers exist. Expert analysis and good practices are necessary.
• Complex: Cause-and-effect relationships are only apparent retrospectively. Experimentation and adaptation are necessary.
• Chaotic: No clear cause-and-effect relationships exist. Immediate action is required to stabilize the situation.

Confused/Aporetic: The situation is unclear, requiring more information to determine the domain, or deliberate confusion in order to aid innovation.

• Improved decision making: Helps leaders choose the most appropriate response to a situation based on its complexity.
• Enhanced adaptability: Enables organizations to respond effectively to changing circumstances.
• Better risk management: Helps identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Improved collaboration: Fosters better communication and understanding among team members.

1. Sense: Observe the situation and gather information.
2. Categorize: Determine which domain the situation belongs to (clear, complicated, complex, chaotic, or confusion).
3. Respond: Select the appropriate response based on the domain:
4. • Clear: Sense-Categorize-Respond. Follow best practices.
   • Complicated: Sense-Analyze-Respond. Analyze the situation and apply expert knowledge.
   • Complex: Probe-Sense-Respond. Experiment and adapt.
   • Chaotic: Act-Sense-Respond. Act to stabilize the situation and then move to a more complex or complicated domain.
   • Confusion/Aporetic: Probe to understand the situation better and then categorize it.
5. Learn: Reflect on the outcomes and adjust your approach as needed.