Changes

[[List_of_methods|List of methods]]  /  [[List_of_methods#Cynefin® specific methods|Cynefin® specific methods]]

[[List_of_methods|List of methods]]  /  [[List_of_methods#Cynefin® specific methods|Cynefin® specific methods]]

A complex system has no repeating relationships between cause and effect, is highly sensitive to small interventions and cannot be determined by outcome based targets; hence when dealing with complex systems there is the need for experimentation. Safe-fail Probes are small-scale experiments that approach issues from different angles, in small and safe-to-fail ways, the intent of which is to approach issues in small, contained ways to allow emergent possibilities to become more visible. The emphasis, then, is not on ensuring success or avoiding failure, but in allowing ideas that are not useful to fail in small, contained and tolerable ways. The ideas that do produce observable benefits can then be adopted and amplified when the complex system has shown the appropriate response to its stimulus. Where systems and the environments in which they exist become increasingly complex, what is known and what can be planned for becomes less certain – introducing and increasing organisational tolerance for failure is more crucial than ever.

A complex system has no repeating and linear relationships between cause and effect, is highly sensitive to small interventions and cannot be determined by outcome based targets; hence when dealing with complex systems there is the need for experimentation. Safe-fail Probes are small-scale experiments that approach issues from different angles, in small and safe-to-fail ways, the intent of which is to approach issues in small, contained ways to allow emergent possibilities to become more visible. The emphasis, then, is not on ensuring success or avoiding failure, but in allowing ideas that are not useful to fail in small, contained and tolerable ways and discover more about the system in the process. The ideas that do produce observable beneficial patterns can then be adopted and amplified when the complex system has shown strong indications of stability, at which stage some of those patterns might become liminal and eventually [[Cynefin Dynamics | move out of the complex domain altogether]]. Where systems and the environments in which they exist become complex, what is known and what can be planned for becomes less certain – introducing and increasing organisational tolerance for failure is more crucial than ever.

The famous Biblical parable of the sower applies here. We sow seeds,  some  fall  on  fertile  ground,  others  on  impenetrable  soil,  and  yet  others  sprout  but  get  overgrown  by  weeds. Our responsibility is to keep sowing the seeds, and tending the ones that are growing; that is all we have control over.

The famous Biblical parable of the sower applies here. We sow seeds,  some  fall  on  fertile  ground,  others  on  impenetrable  soil,  and  yet  others  sprout  but  get  overgrown  by  weeds. Our responsibility is to keep sowing the seeds, and tending the ones that are growing; that is all we have control over.

== Typical Uses ==

== Typical Uses ==

*Safe-fail probes are usually designed to follow Model Creation by social construction.

*Safe-fail probes are usually designed to follow [[3-points | Cynefin creation by social construction]].

*Making decisions in situations of high uncertainty.

*Making decisions in situations of high uncertainty.

*As an alternative to traditional strategic planning which place excessive emphasis on ideal future states.

*As an alternative to traditional strategic planning which place excessive emphasis on ideal future states.

*Stimulating starting conditions for [[innovation]].

*Stimulating starting conditions for [[innovation]].

*Engender support and consensus for new initiatives to contribute to meaningful change.

*Engender support and consensus for new initiatives to contribute to meaningful change.

*They are always run in parallel around all [[Coherence|coherent]] hypothesises

*They are always run in parallel around all [[Coherence|coherent]] hypotheses.

== Preparation ==

== Preparation ==

This activity can be carried out either with individuals, in pairs or in small groups. It is best carried out in small workgroup with relative sizes of three to four participants. The larger the number of groups and participants, the greater the variety of perspectives and iterations. If working with groups of people, carefully review the participants of your workshop to optimise cross-silo grouping of members. This will help produce the tacit outcome of promoting engagement and cooperation amongst people from different departments, ranks of authority and/or organisations

This activity can be carried out either with individuals, in pairs or in small groups. It is best carried out in small working groups 0f 3-5 participants. The larger the number of groups and participants, the greater the variety of perspectives and iterations. If working with groups of people, carefully review the participants of your workshop to optimise cross-silo grouping of members. This will help produce the tacit outcome of promoting engagement and cooperation amongst people from different departments, ranks of authority and/or organisations.

Have organised working spaces for each group; ideally working in circles with writing surfaces

Have organised working spaces for each group; ideally working in circles with writing surfaces.

Set some ground rules for the participants – on top of the specifications and guidelines laid out in the worksheet, it would also be helpful to create a simple guideline for people to assess their own proposals on. (eg. this could be as simple as agreeing to consider any idea that has a remote possibility of creating improvement; or to consider ideas that can only be carried out within a certain time period). This is not critical, but provides a simple guideline and consistent position to adopt when considering proposals for experiments.

Set some ground rules for the participants – on top of the specifications and guidelines laid out in the worksheet, it would also be helpful to create a simple guideline for people to assess their own proposals on (eg. this could be as simple as agreeing to consider any idea that has a remote possibility of creating improvement; or to consider ideas that can only be carried out within a certain time period). This is not critical, but provides a simple guideline and consistent position to adopt when considering proposals for experiments.

== Things You'll Need ==

== Things You'll Need ==

Worksheets with certain guidelines and areas of concern can be prepared. These help give heuristics to the type of experiments participants should be thinking about. (e.g. What the probe is? Rationale behind the probe? How to put the experiment into action? How to observe success of experiment?)

Worksheets with certain guidelines and areas of concern can be prepared. These help create flexible heuristics around the probes participants should be thinking about. (e.g. What is the probe? Rationale behind the probe? How will the probe be put into action? How might success or other impact be observed?)

As these experiments need to be practical and actionable, specific guidelines should also be worked out and specified - such as the time-frame and budgetary limitations that the experiment should work within.  

As these experiments need to be practical and actionable, specific guidelines should also be worked out and specified - such as the time-frame and budgetary limitations that the experiment should work within.  

==Dos and Don'ts==

==Dos and Don'ts==

*Do encourage thinking outside of traditional boundaries. Safe-fail probes require and enhance the ability for exploration.

*Do encourage thinking outside of traditional boundaries. Safe-fail probes require and enhance the ability for exploration.

*Do give interesting examples of oblique solutions that illustrate the importance of not thinking in direct, causal relationships.

*Do give interesting examples of oblique solutions that illustrate the importance of not thinking in direct, causal relationships, preferably from a different domain than the one you are operating in (see tip below).

*Do make use of Safe-fail probes to promote cross-silo and cross-rank collaboration and sensitisation.

*Do make use of Safe-fail probes to promote cross-silo and cross-rank collaboration and sensitisation.

*Do not give direct examples relating directly to the organisation, as this has the effect of patterning how participants start thinking about their problem. Oblique examples from different industries are best for conveying the principle behind this method.

*Do not give direct examples relating directly to the organisation, as this has the effect of patterning how participants start thinking about their problem. Oblique examples from different industries are best for conveying the principle behind this method.

* What could be potential unintended consequences?

* What could be potential unintended consequences?

* Are they considering dynamics and constraints?  

* Are they considering dynamics and constraints?  

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==In a virtual environment==

==In a virtual environment==

The method has been conducted in virtual settings with success over a range of platforms.

The method has been conducted in virtual settings with success over a range of platforms.

==References==

==References==