This document outlines activities to help participants understand different types of problems: simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic. The activities involve building structures with Lego bricks under various constraints. They become increasingly complex with new rules added and groups moving between tables. This is meant to demonstrate different leadership approaches and environments, from stable to unstable. The document concludes by discussing developing a broader repertoire to succeed in new situations and continuously learning to adapt.
5. Activity 2
•Build a tower that is at least 20 bricks tall
•The tower must have a regular colour
pattern
•Upper layers may not be wider than lower
layers
6. COMPLICATED
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
SIMPLE
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond
7. Activity 3
•Build an animal or a vehicle
•It must have a regular colour pattern
•Each colour of brick may be handled by
only one person
•You have 30 seconds to plan, after that no
talking or whispering
•Your group will be moved with your
structure to another table every minute
9. Activity 4
•Build a building or a plant
•Rules from before apply
•Your group will be moved with your
structure to another table every minute
•At random times we will move randomly
selected people from one group to
another
•No planning time & no talking
10. COMPLEX
COMPLICATED
Emergent practice
[CE]
Retrospectively knowable
Networked Leadership
Probe-Sense-Respond
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
CHAOS
SIMPLE
Novel practice
C≠E
Unknowable
Charismatic Leadership
Act-Sense-Respond
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond
11. COMPLEX
COMPLICATED
Emergent practice
[CE]
Retrospectively knowable
Networked Leadership
Probe-Sense-Respond
Good practice
Cause -> Effect
Knowable
Expert Leadership
Sense-Analyze-Respond
DISORDER
CHAOS
SIMPLE
Novel practice
C≠E
Unknowable
Charismatic Leadership
Act-Sense-Respond
Best practice
Cause = Effect
Known
Feudal Leadership
Sense-Categorize-Respond
12. Unstable Environment
Complex & Chaotic
Stable Environment
(Simple & Complicated)
OUTLOOK
Do the job
right and …
Make incremental
progress
Limit
Make calculated
investments
Avoid
Reduce risk with
research and data
UNCERTAINTY
NEW EXPERIENCES
Develop
Narrow
Focus on a few clear
ideas
REPERTOIRE
Consider problems
objectively
13. Unstable Environment
Complex & Chaotic
Succeed more often
in new situations
Place small bets,
quickly
Manage risk through
action
Develop multiple
opportunities
Stable Environment
(Simple & Complicated)
OUTLOOK
Do the job
right and …
Make incremental
progress
Limit
Make calculated
investments
Avoid
Continuously
learn, adapt
and …
Reduce risk with
research and data
Accept
UNCERTAINTY
Seek
NEW EXPERIENCES
Develop
Broad
Develop
Narrow
Focus on a few clear
ideas
REPERTOIRE
Consider problems
empathetically
Consider problems
objectively
14. Change will lead to insight
far more than insight will
lead to change.
Milton Erickson