This document outlines the agenda and instructions for a Lego simulation workshop to teach the Cynefin decision-making framework. The workshop consists of 4 rounds of Lego building exercises designed to demonstrate the different domains of the Cynefin model and the appropriate decision-making approaches. Participants will work individually and in teams to build structures, vehicles, animals and plants under various constraints that simulate complex, complicated, chaotic or obvious problem domains. The objective is for participants to experience when different domains and leadership styles are called for.

1. Cynefin Model
Lego Simulation
Tomasz Wykowski, CST
ABE Light
March 30, 2019

2. @twykowski
Objective
After this session you’ll be able to:
• Describe four domains of Cynefin
Model
• Explain why different domains need
different decision-making models
• Identify the domain you’re currently
in
• Choose the right approach to solve
your problem.

3. @twykowski
Logistic

4. @twykowski
Tomasz Wykowski
Tomasz.Wykowski@procognita.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/wykowski

5. @twykowski
Get Ready!

6. @twykowski
Round I
• As quickly as possible sort the
bricks into colors.
• Put all special pieces into
separate pile.
• You decide which pieces are
special.

7. @twykowski
Round II
• As quickly as possible build a
structure.
• Special requirements:
o Must be at least 20 levels (bricks) high or
20 rows (bricks) width
o Must have regular color pattern
o Every new level cannot be bigger than the
one below it
• Your structure must be stable and
transportable
• When done, come with your
construction to the front

8. @twykowski
Round III
preparation
• In 30 seconds decide if you’ll
create a vehicle or a building

9. @twykowski
Round III
• You’re not allowed to talk
• Like in Round II you need to:
o create your construction using a regular
color pattern
o Make it at least 20 levels high or 20 rows
wide
• In a team each color can be
touched only only by one person.
• Every minute, your team needs to
switch table:
o Take your unfinished work with you
o Leave all materials
• When done, come to the front

10. @twykowski
Round IV
• Follow the rules from Round III
(no talking, regular color pattern,
20 brick high or wide, each color
touched by one person, switch
tables every minute)
• You need to build an animal or a
plant
• Every member, when touched by
facilitator, must change the team.
• When done, come to the front.

11. @twykowski
Thank You!
Tomasz Wykowski
Tomasz.Wykowski@procognita.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/wykowski
https://procognita.com/

12. @twykowski
Resources
This workshop is based on a game
designed by Agile42:
https://www.agile42.com/en/traini
ng/cynefin-lego-game/
You can learn more about Dave
Snowden’s Cynefin model at
https://cognitive-edge.com/