Cynefin , A Sense of Time and Place : an Ecological Approach to Sense Making and Learning in Formal and Informal Communities

This paper outlines one of several sense making models developed by the author based on fieldwork across a range of organizations. These models are designed to pass the ‘paper napkin’ test: they can be drawn from memory on the back of a paper napkin and used to make sense of a situation in normal conversation. All such models are designed to force communities of practitioners to recognize the need to introduce requisite levels of variety into their thinking, and avoid single models of practice and strategy. The Cynefin model focuses on the location of knowledge in an organization using cultural and sense making aspects of four different forms of community, both formal and informal. Three of these communities are a part of the day-to-day life of any large organization, the forth is domain of innovation and strategies for forcing innovation are discussed. Allowing self-organization of knowledge within an organization, utilizing but not being used by the informal or shadow organization is seen as key to effective knowledge management. The paper distinguished between mechanical, Newtonian models of management science and the emerging organic approach, which draws on concepts from complexity theory. This paper is a much-abbreviated version of a chapter in the forthcoming book Knowledge Horizons: The present and promise of Knowledge Management edited by Charles Despres & Daniele Chauvel due for publication in September 2000.