PM4THEWORLD
Order from Chaos
Daniel Gagnon

- Intro
- The Stacey Matrix
- Cynefin
- Ashby’s Law of Requisite
Variety
- Conclusion / Recap
- Q & A
Order from Chaos
Adaptive Ways of Working

- Our approach to challenges and problem-solving needs to be
context-driven
- This is true whether we’re talking about projects or disaster
relief
- We will examine three helpful mental models/frameworks
that can guide our actions in all cases
Intro

- First proposed
in his 1992 book
- Tool to help
managers
better
understand the
nature of
challenges
faced
The Stacey Matrix
HOW
WHAT

- In chaotic contexts, advocates
immediate action:
- Clarify the WHAT
- Find a HOW
- To escape Chaos
- In the case of a natural disaster,
the Stacey Matrix would
suggest taking immediate
action and learning from
mistakes.
The Stacey Matrix
HOW
WHAT

- David Snowden first
introduced in 1999
- Regularly updated since
then
- Sense-making model for
understanding the
complexity of different
situations and identifying
appropriate courses of
action
Cynefin

- In chaotic contexts, advocates an act-
sense-respond stance
- In the case of a natural disaster,
Cynefin would suggest taking rapid
action, experimenting, and learning
from experience:
- relief and rescue efforts should be
implemented quickly, focusing on
experimentation and adaptation.
Cynefin

- Ross Ashby first introduced in his 1956
book
- "The variety in the control system must be
equal to or greater than the variety of the
perturbations in order to achieve control.“
- "You need variety to fight variety!"
- "Meet complexity with complexity."
- "Don't bring a knife to a complexity fight."
Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety

- This means relief and rescue
efforts should involve a wide range
of expertise, including engineers,
first responders, and medical
professionals.
- For example, if language barriers
hinder relief efforts, organizations
should bring in translators or other
language experts to help
communicate with the affected
population.
Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety

Conclusion / Recap
Framework Emphasis in chaotic situations
Stacey Matrix Take immediate action, learn from mistakes
Cynefin Take rapid action, experiment and learn
Ashby’s Law Ensure requisite variety to cope with complexity

Sources
Ashby, W. Ross. An Introduction to Cybernetics. Martino Fine Books, 2015.
Chris Corrigan. “A Tour around the Latest Cynefin Iteration,” March 23, 2020.
https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/a-tour-around-the-latest-cynefin-iteration/.
“Edge.Org.” Accessed March 26, 2023. https://www.edge.org/response-detail/27150.
Joseph W Norman. “Requisite Variety and Varietal Fit in Cognitive Systems,” July 12, 2018.
https://jwnorman.com/?p=4890.
Snowden, Dave, Zhen Goh, and Sonja Blignaut. Cynefin - Weaving Sense-Making into the
Fabric of Our World. Edited by Riva Greenberg and Boudewijn Bertsch. Cognitive Edge - The
Cynefin Co: Cognitive Edge - The Cynefin Co., 2020.
Stacey, Ralph D. Managing the Unknowable: Strategic Boundaries Between Order and Chaos in
Organizations. 1st edition. Jossey-Bass, 2008.

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