the problem with problems v3 03 15 15

THE PROBLEM

WITH PROBLEMS

COMPLEXITY AND MEDIATION

BRUCE A. WALTUCK, M.A., C, C, AND C

PRESIDENT, FREETHINC. . . FOR A CHANGE

CONSULTING THROUGH A NEW LENS

WWW.FREETHINC.COM 609.577.1584

Copyright © Bruce Waltuck 2015. All Rights Reserved

http://www.freethinc.com/

NOT ALL PROBLEMS ARE CREATED EQUAL

SIMPLE, OR OBVIOUS

TECHNICAL, OR COMPLICATED

ADAPTIVE, OR COMPLEX


SIMPLE, OR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS

THE DOMAIN OF KNOWN KNOWNS

EVERYONE KNOWS THE SOLUTION

EMOTION CAN BLOCK OUTCOMES


COMPLICATED, OR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

THE DOMAIN OF KNOWN UNKNOWNS

EXPERTS CAN GIVE US A RANGE OF VIABLE OPTIONS

REASONABLE CERTAINTY OF DESIRED OUTCOME

STATUTES & PRECEDENT, E.G.


COMPLEX, OR ADAPTIVE PROBLEMS

THE DOMAIN OF UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS

NO ONE NOW KNOWS WHAT THE SOLUTION IS

EXPLORE PROMISING OPTIONS IN WAYS THAT ARE "SAFE TO FAIL"

ANY MOVEMENT FROM THE STATUS QUO WILL REQUIRE ADAPTATION & CHANGE


OPTION ASSESSMENT

AS IN INTEREST-BASED NEGOTIATION

EXPRESS & AGREE ON CORE VALUES AND OPERATING PRINCIPLES

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME/US?

WHAT DO I/WE WANT?

HOW WILL I/WE ACT IN MAKING SENSE & DECISIONS?


DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEM>DIFFERENT

PATTERNS OF RESPONSE

SIMPLE, OR OBVIOUS > SENSE, CATEGORIZE, RESPOND

COMPLICATED, OR TECHNICAL > SENSE, ANALYZE, RESPOND

COMPLEX, OR ADAPTIVE > PROBE, SENSE, RESPOND


EXAMPLES

FINANCIALS

HOME AND OTHER ASSETS

FUTURE EARNINGS

CHILD CUSTODY

CHILD SPECIAL NEEDS

ALIMONY


FEAR, FAILURE, AND UNCERTAINTY

WE SIMPLY CAN NOT KNOW EVERYTHING WE WANT TO KNOW

BUT WE CAN ACT IN WAYS THAT ARE CONGRUENT WITH OUR CORE VALUES &

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

WE HAVE LEARNED TO PRESUME SOLUTIONS ARE KNOWABLE AND TO FEAR AMBIGUITY &

FAILURE


THE COMPASS & THE MAP:

INTENDING & DISCOVERING

ONE CIRCLE AS PARTIES TOGETHER

OUTER CIRCLES: SPHERES OF INTEREST, CONCERN, ISSUES

TWO CIRCLE DIAGRAMS – AS THE PARTIES ARE SEPARATED


TRUE NORTH

ACCOUNTABILITY NOW, & LATER

DID WE DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO. . . IN THE WAY WE SAID WE WOULD DO IT?

NEW INFORMATION CAN SHIFT UNDERSTANDING, REDRAW THE MAP, & REORIENT THE COMPASS

ARE MY/OUR POSITIONS CONGRUENT WITH MY/OUR ESPOUSED VALUES & BELIEFS?


STUFF HAPPENS

ACTING INTO THE UNKNOWN FUTURE

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

FOUR DOMAINS >

FEELING

LEARNING

UNDERSTANDING

EXPLORING


WE ALL GET "FLUXED“

WWW.GETFLUXED.COM

EXPERIENCE

EXPECTATIONS

ENGAGEMENT

RESPONSE

DEGREES OF DIFFERENCE


THE SINGLE BIGGEST MISTAKE

TREATING THE TRULY COMPLEX AS IF IT WAS OBVIOUS, TECHNICAL, OR COMPLICATED


THE PERSISTENT PERNICIOUS PRESUMPTION

PRESUMING THAT THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT WE DO

AND WHAT HAPPENS, IS KNOWN, OR KNOWABLE,

IN MEETING COMPLEX PROBLEMS


MIND THE GAP

WORK TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN EXPECTATION AND EXPERIENCE


THE CYNEFIN FRAMEWORK

HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/CYNEFIN


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin

RICHARD KNOWLES' PROCESS ENNEAGRAM

HTTP://WORLDBUSINESS.ORG/WP-

CONTENT/UPLOADS/2013/06/PR082406.PDF


http://worldbusiness.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pr082406.pdf

LIBERATING STRUCTURES

HTTP://WWW.LIBERATINGSTRUCTURES.COM/


MIND MAPPING

HTTP://WWW.THEBRAIN.COM/MINDMAPPINGWELCOME?GCLID=C

PEVU5KRRCQCFVQ2GQODW3KANG


THANK YOU

BRUCE WALTUCK, M.A., COMPLEXITY, CHAOS, AND CREATIVITY

YES, IT REALLY SAYS THAT ON THE DIPLOMA

FREETHINC. . . FOR A CHANGE

CONSULTING THROUGH A NEW LENS

CHANGE, EMPLOYEE AND LABOR RELATIONS, DIALOGUE, PARTICIPATORY NARRATIVE INQUIRY

[email protected] 609.577.1584


mailto:[email protected]

the problem with problems v3 03 15 15

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