PMI-ACP Practice Questions #37
Your team is struggling to categorize a project into clear domains of certainty or uncertainty because there is conflicting information, no consensus on the approach, and a lack of clarity on requirements. According to the Cynefin Framework, which domain does this situation fall under, and what should be the next step?
A. Simple – Apply best practices and predefined processes.
B. Complicated – Engage experts to analyze the situation and provide solutions.
C. Complex – Experiment to find emergent solutions through iteration and feedback.
D. Disorder – Break the situation into smaller parts to categorize them into appropriate domains.
Analysis
The question presents a scenario where the team is struggling to categorize a project due to conflicting information, lack of consensus, and unclear requirements. According to the Cynefin Framework, when a situation cannot be clearly classified into any domain because of confusion or uncertainty, it falls under the Disorder domain. The best approach in such cases is to break the situation into smaller components and categorize each part into the appropriate domain—Simple, Complicated, Complex, or Chaotic—before proceeding with solutions.
Analysis of Options
A: Simple – Apply best practices and predefined processes.
The Simple domain applies when processes and solutions are well-established, and best practices can be followed with minimal uncertainty. Since the given scenario describes confusion, lack of consensus, and unclear requirements, it does not fit the Simple category, making this option incorrect.
B: Complicated – Engage experts to analyze the situation and provide solutions.
In the Complicated domain, structured analysis and expert guidance help in determining solutions. However, the main issue in this scenario is the lack of clarity, meaning the team does not yet know whether expert analysis is the right approach. The first step should be to categorize the situation, making this option premature.
C: Complex – Experiment to find emergent solutions through iteration and feedback.
The Complex domain requires experimentation and feedback loops to determine the best course of action. While the project might have elements that eventually fall into the Complex category, the team first needs to resolve the confusion and classify the problem appropriately, which is the focus of this question. Therefore, this is not the best choice.
D: Disorder – Break the situation into smaller parts to categorize them into appropriate domains.
The Disorder domain is used in the Cynefin Framework when a situation is unclear, chaotic, and lacks an obvious classification. The correct action in Disorder is to break the problem into smaller components and assign each to the appropriate domain (Simple, Complicated, Complex, or Chaotic). Since the scenario explicitly describes confusion and lack of consensus, this option directly addresses the issue.
Conclusion
The correct answer is Option D: Disorder, as the team is currently unable to classify the project. The best approach is to break down the situation into smaller parts and determine how each should be handled before taking further action.
PMI – ACP Exam Content Outline Mapping
| Domain | Task |
| Mindset | Embrace Agile Mindset |
Topics Covered:
- Cynefin Framework classification for decision-making in uncertainty.
- Disorder domain characteristics (confusion, lack of consensus, conflicting information).
- Breaking down problems into smaller components for clearer categorization.
- Differentiating between Simple, Complicated, Complex, and Chaotic domains.
- Why expert analysis (Complicated) or experimentation (Complex) is premature in Disorder.
- Applying Agile mindset to navigate uncertainty by structuring problem-solving effectively.
- Strategic decision-making in Agile environments when faced with unclear requirements.
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