Scientific Definition
Sort situations into Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused — each needs a different response.
Plain-English Definition
Sort situations into Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused — each needs a different response.
Feynman Explanation
Best-practice answers in complex domains aren't best. They're hazardous.
Core Principle
Sort situations into Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused — each needs a different response.
Mechanisms
Pending editorial review.
Sort situations into Clear, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused — each needs a different response.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Treating a complex problem as merely complicated is the most common strategic error.
Inputs (Triggers)
Pending editorial review.
Outputs (Behaviors)
Pending editorial review.
Behavioral Signature
Best-practice answers in complex domains aren't best. They're hazardous.
Examples
- Dave Snowden's sense-making framework, widely adopted in defense, healthcare, and software.
- Treating a complex problem as merely complicated is the most common strategic error.
Pending editorial review.
Famous Experiments
Pending editorial review.
Design Principles
- Diagnose the domain first. Sense-categorize-respond (clear), sense-analyze-respond (complicated), probe-sense-respond (complex), act-sense-respond (chaotic).
Measurement Approaches
Pending editorial review.
Evidence
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
- Diagnose the domain first. Sense-categorize-respond (clear), sense-analyze-respond (complicated), probe-sense-respond (complex), act-sense-respond (chaotic).
Pending editorial review.
Pending editorial review.
Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Basics first (health/finances), then depth (mastery/impact), then altruism (widening circle).
A problem whose solution requires people to change their values, beliefs, or habits — not just apply expertise.
Holding a different — and correct — set of tools than everyone else.
Someone who incites others to take illegal or rash action, often to expose or discredit them.
Sun Tzu's ancient treatise on strategy, deception, and positioning.
Conflict between belligerents with very different resources and tactics.
Start from the desired future and work backward to the steps that make it inevitable.
Winning the disputed population, not just defeating the visible opponent.
Countering hostile narratives with truthful, well-timed alternatives.
Eroding the will to act, even when capacity remains.
Munger's principle: the surest way to get something is to deserve it.
An act committed to look like it was done by someone else.