My slides for WordCamp Denver on the cynefin framework and how context changes how we should approach web projects.

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We’re Not
Building Chairs

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What if we’re held
back by the lies
we’re believing?

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Golf, skiing,
snowboarding,
surfing – they’re
different from
chair building.

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We often think
about things based
on 17th century
concepts.

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Cause & ______
Break big
problems into
_______________

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Our world is not
a machine. People
are not machines.

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We all love
predictability &
control, even if it’s
not working for us.

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Before we talk about
quantum mechanics
can we talk about
Legos for a second?

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Source:
h*p://www.agile42.com/en/blog/2011/12/25/cynefin-­‐lego-­‐game/
Sort the bricks into
colors, as quickly as
possible. Create one
heap for all special
pieces.
Simple

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Source:
h*p://www.agile42.com/en/blog/2011/12/25/cynefin-­‐lego-­‐game/
Build a structure at least 20
bricks tall, with a regular
color pattern and pieces
shrinking as you go higher.
Complicated

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Source:
h*p://www.agile42.com/en/blog/2011/12/25/cynefin-­‐lego-­‐game/
In 30 seconds, decide if you’re building an animal
or vehicle. Then begin building – without talking.
You need a regular color pattern, but each color
of piece can only be touched by one person.
Every minute your team moves to a new table
(which has different pieces).
Complex

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Source:
h*p://www.agile42.com/en/blog/2011/12/25/cynefin-­‐lego-­‐game/
In 30 seconds, decide if you’re building a building
or a plant. Then begin building – without talking.
You need a regular color pattern, but each color
of piece can only be touched by one person.
Someone may ask a team member to go to
another team.
Chaotic

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Simple Complicated Complex Chaotic
You categorize
a situation and
then the answer
is obvious.
Pre-written
scripts for your
help desk
Cause & effect
exists.
There is a right answer
but it’s not obvious.
Analysis by an expert is
needed.
Coding a plugin for
WordPress
A cause & effect
relationship exists but it’s
only known by experts.
Experimenting &
probing is the right
approach.
Branding via
blogging or video
Cause & effect
can only be
perceived in
retrospect.
You act right
away to
stabilize, then
decide.
Client / Site
meltdown
Cause & effect
does not exist.
h*p://www.scrumsense.com/blog/cynefin-­‐framework/

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We act like a
perfect project plan
will save the day.
It won’t.

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Control – of people,
processes &
projects is not the
answer.

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The New Science: Quantum Physics
• Entanglement
• Strongattractors
• Thewholevs. theparts
• Noimpartialparties

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So What?

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We all hope that
experience is the
building block that
will help us succeed.

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Hope is not
a strategy.

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We have to stop
treating complex
and chaotic work as
if it’s simply
complicated.

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Ok, let’s get
practical.

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Practice a lot. Learn You.

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Always be connecting.

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Relationships matter
more than anything
else.
Getting things done. Navigating complexity.
Processing chaos. Creating opportunity.

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Experiment more!

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If you raise your
prices you’ll have
margin to
experiment.
That’s why I nag you so much.

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Choose collaboration over control.

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The reality when we
treat all our projects
like we’re building
chairs is that we’re
hoping it will work.

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We all hope
predictability &
control will save
the day.

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Hope is not
a strategy.

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Chris Lema
@chrislema
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