Gary Wong
Complexity Facilitator
Gary Wong & Associates
Anthro-complexity approach to Safety
The Anthropology field of Ethnography studies humans as natural storytellers. Complexity, the science of uncertainty, allows us insight into reality. Anthro-complexity, the science of human complex adaptive systems, enables us to make sense of real world experiences and co-create new realities out of the crisis.
Why: This approach views Safety as an emergent property of a complex adaptive system and explains why we need both Safety-I (robustness) and Safety-II (resilience).
What: Improving safety is about applying HOP principles to conduct small experiments, accelerate where change is positive, and dampen/curtail if unintended negative consequences emerge.
How: Generate real-time narrative maps to reveal patterns and systemic conditions influencing why people behave the way they do.
Since the human brain seeks the lowest energy gradient to be efficient, develop an Affordance map to prioritize safety improvement initiatives. Use the Cynefin Framework to create practical action plans executed under a project portfolio.
For close to 20 years Gary has run his own independent consulting practice focusing on complexity thinking and safety.
He has been an active participant on the Safeopedia platform. For 2 years Gary co-hosted an online monthly Meet the Author show speaking with authors of safety books. He currently has a show called The Uncertainty of… exploring the Safety Age of Cognitive Complexity.
He is a trained practitioner with the Cynefin Company dating back to 2008. He co-developed the anthro-complexity approach to safety and has delivered in-person and virtual workshops around the world.