The Cynefin framework: applying an understanding of complexity to medicine

The Cynefin framework: applying an understanding of complexity to medicine Ben Gray MNChB, MBHL, FRNZCGP (disting) medicine is complex.General practice and hospital medicine approach complexity differently.Hospitals cut medicine into specialist parts, each knowing a lot about their speciality.General practice developed different skills and abilities based on whole patients.Complexity theory implies that these approaches are complementary.The Cynefin framework 1 (see Figure 1) was developed by Snowden for business problems but applies well to medicine.