Dave Snowden
Encyclopedia
David John Snowden is a Welsh
lecturer, consultant and researcher in the field of knowledge management
.
He has been described as an expert on tacit knowledge
, and "One of the most perceptive observers of the way in which knowledge is used in organizations." In 2008 he won the Academy of Management
award for an "Outstanding Practitioner-Oriented Publication in OB" for a Harvard Business Review
article co-authored by Mary E. Boone.
Snowden developed the Cynefin
framework, a practical application of complexity theory
to management science. The framework helps managers determine the prevailing operative context, enabling appropriate choices and decisions. Snowden explains the choice of the term Cynefin :[it is] a Welsh word
that signifies the "multiple factors in our environment and our experience that influence us in ways we can never understand". Cynefin has no direct translation into English, but its meaning is similar to 'habitat' and is also used "as an adjective used to convey 'acquainted' or 'familiar'."
He describes his three basic rules or principles of knowledge exchange:
, Essex
, to Welsh parents. When he was three, his parents returned to Wales and Snowden grew up in Mold, Flintshire
, where he was educated at the Alun School
. He earned a degree in Philosophy
from the University of Lancaster, where he was a member of County College
. Following University he worked for the Student Christian Movement for three years. Moving into industry he obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration
at Middlesex University
studying part time. Following a series of roles in various organisations, he was one of the management team who bought Data Sciences from Thorn EMI
. When that organisation was acquired by IBM
, he became a Director in the IBM Institute for Knowledge Management and subsequently founded their Cynefin Centre for Organisational Complexity. He is currently the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cognitive Edge, a research network that focuses on the development of the theory and practice of sensemaking.
Snowden is a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria
, adjunct at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
, and a visiting fellow at Warwick University, Nanyang University
, the Università Cattolica
and the Singapore Management College. He has also held visiting positions at the universities of Canberra
and Surrey
. In 2008-2009 he wrote a column, for KMWorld, called Everything is fragmented on trends in technology, social issues, the scientific use of narrative. Snowden lives in Lockeridge
, Wiltshire
, England and, as of 2010, is an editor-in-chief of the journal
, Emergence: Complexity and Organisation and a director of funding allocation for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
on the subject of emergence
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
lecturer, consultant and researcher in the field of knowledge management
Knowledge management
Knowledge management comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences...
.
He has been described as an expert on tacit knowledge
Tacit knowledge
Tacit knowledge is knowledge that is difficult to transfer to another person by means of writing it down or verbalising it. For example, stating to someone that London is in the United Kingdom is a piece of explicit knowledge that can be written down, transmitted, and understood by a recipient...
, and "One of the most perceptive observers of the way in which knowledge is used in organizations." In 2008 he won the Academy of Management
Academy of Management
The Academy of Management is a professional association for scholars dedicated to creating and disseminating knowledge about management and organizations. The Academy of Management was established in 1936...
award for an "Outstanding Practitioner-Oriented Publication in OB" for a Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review is a general management magazine published since 1922 by Harvard Business School Publishing, owned by the Harvard Business School. A monthly research-based magazine written for business practitioners, it claims a high ranking business readership among academics, executives,...
article co-authored by Mary E. Boone.
Snowden developed the Cynefin
Cynefin
The Cynefin framework is a model used to describe problems, situations and systems. The model provides a typology of contexts that guides what sort of explanations and/or solutions may apply. Cynefin is a Welsh word, which is commonly translated into English as 'habitat' or 'place', although...
framework, a practical application of complexity theory
Complex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
to management science. The framework helps managers determine the prevailing operative context, enabling appropriate choices and decisions. Snowden explains the choice of the term Cynefin :
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
that signifies the "multiple factors in our environment and our experience that influence us in ways we can never understand". Cynefin has no direct translation into English, but its meaning is similar to 'habitat' and is also used "as an adjective used to convey 'acquainted' or 'familiar'."
He describes his three basic rules or principles of knowledge exchange:
Professional activities
Snowden was born in OngarChipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, to Welsh parents. When he was three, his parents returned to Wales and Snowden grew up in Mold, Flintshire
Mold, Flintshire
Mold is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, and was also the county town of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996...
, where he was educated at the Alun School
Alun School
The Alun School is a large secondary school serving the community of Mold, Flintshire, North Wales, and its surrounding villages. It is part of the Flintshire LEA...
. He earned a degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the University of Lancaster, where he was a member of County College
The County College
The County College, mostly known as County College, is a constituent college of the University of Lancaster. The establishment of the college was financed through the benefaction of Lancashire County Council and it is named after it...
. Following University he worked for the Student Christian Movement for three years. Moving into industry he obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
at Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
studying part time. Following a series of roles in various organisations, he was one of the management team who bought Data Sciences from Thorn EMI
Thorn EMI
Thorn EMI was a major British company involved in consumer electronics, music, defence and retail. Created in October 1979 when Thorn Electrical Industries merged with EMI, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it demerged again in...
. When that organisation was acquired by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, he became a Director in the IBM Institute for Knowledge Management and subsequently founded their Cynefin Centre for Organisational Complexity. He is currently the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cognitive Edge, a research network that focuses on the development of the theory and practice of sensemaking.
Snowden is a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
, adjunct at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
, and a visiting fellow at Warwick University, Nanyang University
Nanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
, the Università Cattolica
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a privately-owned Catholic university founded in 1921 by Agostino Gemelli. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, Rome, and Campobasso...
and the Singapore Management College. He has also held visiting positions at the universities of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
and Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
. In 2008-2009 he wrote a column, for KMWorld, called Everything is fragmented on trends in technology, social issues, the scientific use of narrative. Snowden lives in Lockeridge
Lockeridge
Lockeridge is a village in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the edge of the West Woods in the Kennet Valley, west of Marlborough, east of Avebury and south of Swindon....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England and, as of 2010, is an editor-in-chief of the journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
, Emergence: Complexity and Organisation and a director of funding allocation for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences , mainly to universities in the United Kingdom...
on the subject of emergence
Emergence
In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. Emergence is central to the theories of integrative levels and of complex systems....
.
Works
- "The art and science of Story or ‘Are you sitting uncomfortably?’", Business Information Review December 2000 vol. 17 no. 4 215-226.
- "Complex acts of knowing: paradox and descriptive self-awareness", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 6 Iss: 2, 2002. pp. 100 - 111.
- "The new dynamics of strategy: Sense-making in a complex and complicated world", IBM Systems Journal, Volume: 42 Issue:3, 2003, 462 - 483.
- with Mary E. Boone, "A Leader’s Framework for Decision Making of the circumstances they face", Harvard Business Review, November 2007.
External links
- List of articles by Dave Snowden