Chaos mechanics is a brutally simple work management method for delivering more with less in a rapidly changing world. It involves continually understanding the mechanics of the chaos around you. Chaos is a natural response to outside influences outside of anyone's control. The method focuses on only documenting what makes sense, applying care where it matters, and never creating secret games. It views work as a series of "games" with inputs like goals and players, expected chaos, and the work itself, and outputs like victories, setbacks, and information for the next game.

1. chaos mechanics
brutally simple work management
chaosmech.org

2. expectation
• deliver more
• with less
• more quickly
amongst a chaotic and changing world

3. the key is to continually
understand the mechanics of
the chaos you are in

4. why the chaos?
• due to rapid and global transformation of
behaviours in commerce
is chaos necessary?
• absolutely, chaos is a response to influences
outside of anyone's control, you can’t hide!
concept

5. human advantage
• we naturally analyse and act on chaos everyday e.g.
people navigating a crowds whilst avoiding collisions
gut feeling
• we are not computers, we produce feelings which
guide the complex decisions we make
theory

6. internalise chaos
• only document what makes sense
do real things
• only apply care where it matters
practice
be predictable
• never create secret games

7. inputs
• aim of the game
• players involved
• the expected chaos
• the doing part
outputs
• victories or setbacks
• heads-up info for the next game
• a big win, a waste of time or an
epic fail
chaosmech

8. new game
players
the chaos
doing
Work
a waste
of time
an epic
fail
the big
win!
victories setbacks
Lead to
inputs outputs

9. documentation
• the chaosmech documentation describes the inputs
and outputs in more detail (visit chaosmech.org)
apps
• software based on chaosmech can assist with
managing and documenting work
tools

10. chaosmech.org
more info
Chaos mechanics by Steven Bowden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on work at chaosmech.org