Dave Snowden

Dave Snowden is a Welsh management consultant and researcher who has made significant contributions to the fields of knowledge management and complexity science.1 He is best known for developing the Cynefin framework, a decision-making tool used by organizations worldwide.13

Career Highlights

Snowden currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at The Cynefin Company (formerly known as Cognitive Edge), a management consulting firm he founded in 2005.12 His career spans several decades and includes notable positions:

• Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of The Cynefin Company (2004-present)2
• Director of the Cynefin Centre at IBM (2002-2004)2
• Director of the Institute for Knowledge Management at IBM (2000-2002)2
• Various roles at Data Sciences Ltd (1984-1997)2

Education

Snowden's educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy from Lancaster University (1972-1975)12
• MBA in Financial Management from Middlesex University (1983-1985)2

Contributions and Expertise

Snowden is renowned for his work in:

• Developing the Cynefin framework for decision-making13
• Researching the importance of storytelling in organizations1
• Applying complexity science to management and organizational issues14

He is a prolific writer and speaker, having authored numerous articles and book chapters on topics such as the Cynefin framework, narrative research methods, and complexity in sensemaking.1 His work has earned recognition, including an award from the Academy of Management for a Harvard Business Review article on Cynefin.1

Snowden's approach to organizational management draws from various disciplines, including anthropology, neuroscience, and complex adaptive systems theory.4 He is known for his pragmatic cynicism and iconoclastic style in addressing complex issues related to strategy and organizational decision-making.4