How do I install the Cynefin skill?

Run npx skillmds add majiayu000/cynefin in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Cynefin safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Cynefin?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Cynefin free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Cynefin?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Cynefin by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Cynefin
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

File contents

Cynefin Analysis

Analyze a situation through the Cynefin framework to understand what type of problem it is and choose the appropriate response.

Instructions

Determine which Cynefin domain the problem belongs to, then apply the appropriate response approach. Be willing to recognize that parts of a problem may span multiple domains.

Output Format

Situation: [What we're analyzing]

Initial Assessment

Characteristics Check

Characteristic	Yes/No/Maybe	Evidence
Cause and effect are clear and predictable
Experts can analyze and determine the answer
Outcomes can only be understood in hindsight
The situation is unstable/in crisis
We genuinely don't know what kind of problem this is

Domain Classification

Primary Domain: [Simple/Complicated/Complex/Chaotic/Confused]

Why this domain? [Reasoning for the classification]

Domain-Appropriate Response

If SIMPLE/OBVIOUS

Sense → Categorize → Respond

Best Practice to Apply: [The established approach]

If COMPLICATED

Sense → Analyze → Respond

Experts Needed: [Who has the expertise?] Analysis Required: [What to investigate?]

If COMPLEX

Probe → Sense → Respond

Safe-to-Fail Experiments:

Probe	What We'd Learn	Amplify if...	Dampen if...
[experiment]	[insight]	[success indicators]	[failure indicators]

Key Mindset: Don't try to predict. Try things, observe, adapt.

If CHAOTIC

Act → Sense → Respond

Immediate Stabilization: [What action do we take right now?]

If CONFUSED

Break down, then categorize

Sub-problem	Likely Domain	Why
[sub-problem]	[domain]	[reasoning]

Boundary Warnings

Transition	Warning Signs	What to Do
Simple → Chaotic	Complacency	Challenge assumptions
Complicated → Complex	Analysis not converging	Try probes instead
Complex → Chaotic	Loss of control	Stabilize fast

Recommended Approach

Given this is a [DOMAIN] problem, we should:

[Primary approach]
[Supporting action]

Guidelines

Most people default to Complicated (analysis) when Complex (probes) is needed
"Best practice" is only valid in Simple domain
In Complex, you can't predict—you can only experiment and adapt
In Chaotic, act first, think later

$ARGUMENTS

---name: cynefindescription: Cynefin sense-making framework categorizing problems as Simple, Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, or Confused to select the right approach. Use when unsure how to tackle a problem.--- # Cynefin Analysis Analyze a situation through the Cynefin framework to understand what type of problem it is and choose the appropriate response. ## Instructions Determine which Cynefin domain the problem belongs to, then apply the appropriate response approach. Be willing to recognize that parts of a problem may span multiple domains. ### Output Format **Situation**: [What we're analyzing] --- ## Initial Assessment **Characteristics Check** | Characteristic | Yes/No/Maybe | Evidence | |---------------|--------------|----------| | Cause and effect are clear and predictable | | | | Experts can analyze and determine the answer | | | | Outcomes can only be understood in hindsight | | | | The situation is unstable/in crisis | | | | We genuinely don't know what kind of problem this is | | | --- ## Domain Classification **Primary Domain**: [Simple/Complicated/Complex/Chaotic/Confused] **Why this domain?** [Reasoning for the classification] --- ## Domain-Appropriate Response ### If SIMPLE/OBVIOUS *Sense → Categorize → Respond* **Best Practice to Apply**: [The established approach] ### If COMPLICATED *Sense → Analyze → Respond* **Experts Needed**: [Who has the expertise?] **Analysis Required**: [What to investigate?] ### If COMPLEX *Probe → Sense → Respond* **Safe-to-Fail Experiments**: | Probe | What We'd Learn | Amplify if... | Dampen if... | |-------|-----------------|---------------|---------------| | [experiment] | [insight] | [success indicators] | [failure indicators] | **Key Mindset**: Don't try to predict. Try things, observe, adapt. ### If CHAOTIC *Act → Sense → Respond* **Immediate Stabilization**: [What action do we take right now?] ### If CONFUSED *Break down, then categorize* | Sub-problem | Likely Domain | Why | |-------------|---------------|-----| | [sub-problem] | [domain] | [reasoning] | --- ## Boundary Warnings | Transition | Warning Signs | What to Do | |------------|--------------|------------| | Simple → Chaotic | Complacency | Challenge assumptions | | Complicated → Complex | Analysis not converging | Try probes instead | | Complex → Chaotic | Loss of control | Stabilize fast | --- ## Recommended Approach **Given this is a [DOMAIN] problem, we should:** 1. [Primary approach] 2. [Supporting action] ## Guidelines - Most people default to Complicated (analysis) when Complex (probes) is needed - "Best practice" is only valid in Simple domain - In Complex, you can't predict—you can only experiment and adapt - In Chaotic, act first, think later $ARGUMENTS

Frequently asked questions