Making Sense of Complexity: Using SenseMaker as a Research Tool
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. The Cynefin Framework and SenseMaker Tool
3. Applications
4. Guidelines for Using SenseMaker as a Research Approach
4.1. Step 1: Initiation through to Instrument Deployment
4.1.1. Conceptual Design
4.1.2. Detailed Design: Signification Framework
4.1.3. Instrument Usability Tests and Online Deployment
4.2. Step 2: Story Collection: Narrative Collection Strategy and Data Capture
4.3. Step 3: Exploratory Data Analysis and Sensemaking
4.3.1. Exploratory Analysis
4.3.2. Collective Sensemaking
4.4. Step 4: Response to Affect Change in the System
5. SenseMaker Limitations and Suggestions for Future Development
5.1. Research Method
5.2. Socio-Technical Considerations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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1 | A Welsh word describing a sense of place, or habitat (pronounced Kih-neh-vin). |
2 | Interact with these results at https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/analytics/big-decision-survey.html. |
3 | SenseMaker Analyst generates two-dimensional fitness landscapes showing narrative density as contours. |
Applications | Published Literature | Institutional Reports |
---|---|---|
Monitoring, evaluation & measuring impact | [64] | [55,56,59,65,66,67,68,69,70] |
Mapping of ideation cultures, mind-sets & attitudes | [44,60,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78] | [61,66,79,80,81,82,83] |
Detecting trends | [84,85,86,87,88] | [89,90] |
Purpose | Software | Description | Platform |
---|---|---|---|
Design | SenseMaker Designer | An online administrator interface that allows SenseMaker practitioners to create and customize new projects that can be used for narrative capture. Once the administrator publishes the project it becomes available through the use of a unique code to capture narratives. | Web front-end to an online configuration and data management service. |
Collect | SenseMaker Collector app | To be used by participants or data collectors for collecting narratives and the signification of those narratives. Alternatively capture data directly from a website through any web browser. | Website through any browser, or App that run on Apple or Android smart devices. |
View | SenseMaker Explore app | Project code access available on request, to monitor the number of narratives captured, see high level patterns among the narratives, and read individual narratives—not recommended practice. | App only available on Apple iPad. |
Analysis | SenseMaker Analyst | A web-based analysis tool, currently less powerful than Explorer and Modeler, but with a more intuitive user interface and new functionality like x-y-plots. | Web interface to an online analysis tool. |
SenseMaker Explorer and SenseMaker Modeler | An application that runs off a computer and access data locally that was extracted from the online-database. An analytical platform for finding statistical correlations, to slice and dice data; build 3D landscapes; compare patterns among sub groups and more. Has largely been replaced by the online SenseMaker Analyst. | Software installed on an Intel based platform, requires a Java plug-in. |
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Van der Merwe, S.E.; Biggs, R.; Preiser, R.; Cunningham, C.; Snowden, D.J.; O’Brien, K.; Jenal, M.; Vosloo, M.; Blignaut, S.; Goh, Z. Making Sense of Complexity: Using SenseMaker as a Research Tool. Systems 2019, 7, 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems7020025
Van der Merwe SE, Biggs R, Preiser R, Cunningham C, Snowden DJ, O’Brien K, Jenal M, Vosloo M, Blignaut S, Goh Z. Making Sense of Complexity: Using SenseMaker as a Research Tool. Systems. 2019; 7(2):25. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems7020025
Chicago/Turabian StyleVan der Merwe, Susara E., Reinette Biggs, Rika Preiser, Charmaine Cunningham, David J. Snowden, Karen O’Brien, Marcus Jenal, Marietjie Vosloo, Sonja Blignaut, and Zhen Goh. 2019. "Making Sense of Complexity: Using SenseMaker as a Research Tool" Systems 7, no. 2: 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems7020025