/categorize

Categorize Problem Domain

Quickly determine which Cynefin domain a problem belongs to and what that means for how to approach it.

Instructions

Assess the characteristics of the problem to determine its domain, then provide the corresponding approach.

Output Format

**Problem**: [What we're categorizing]

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Quick Domain Test

| Question | Answer | Points To | |----------|--------|-----------| | Is the right answer obvious or well-documented? | [Yes/No] | Simple if Yes | | Would an expert know what to do after analysis? | [Yes/No] | Complicated if Yes | | Can we only understand cause→effect in hindsight? | [Yes/No] | Complex if Yes | | Is the situation unstable and urgent? | [Yes/No] | Chaotic if Yes | | Are we genuinely unsure what kind of problem this is? | [Yes/No] | Confused if Yes |

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Classification

**Domain**: [Simple / Complicated / Complex / Chaotic / Confused]

**Confidence**: [High / Medium / Low]

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What This Means

Response Approach

| Domain | Your Approach | |--------|---------------| | **Simple** | Sense → Categorize → Respond (use best practice) | | **Complicated** | Sense → Analyze → Respond (consult experts) | | **Complex** | Probe → Sense → Respond (run experiments) | | **Chaotic** | Act → Sense → Respond (stabilize first) | | **Confused** | Break down into sub-problems, categorize each |

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For Your Problem

**Approach**: [The approach matching your domain]

**First Step**: [Immediate next action]

**Common Mistake to Avoid**: [What people typically do wrong in this domain]

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Domain Indicators

**Simple/Obvious**

• Everyone agrees on the answer
• There's a standard process
• "We've done this before"

**Complicated**

• Experts can figure it out
• Analysis leads to answers
• Multiple good solutions exist

**Complex**

• Cause and effect unclear in advance
• Patterns emerge over time
• "It depends" is the honest answer

**Chaotic**

• High turbulence, no clear patterns
• Need to act immediately to stabilize
• No time for analysis

**Confused**

• We don't know which domain applies
• Need to break it down first

$ARGUMENTS