Cynefin Mapping: CPTED Interventions

Cynefin Framework helps to makes sense of the real world and how to act in it
- Critical to understand the context of a specific problem and determine the appropriate response

When applied to the field of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Cynefin offers valuable insights into improving safety and security in communities
- All communities are complex adaptive systems (CAS)
- Safety is an emergent property of a CAS

CPTED Principle	Cynefin Domain	Rationale
Natural Surveillance	Complicated	Expert-driven design logic applying predictable cause-effect relationships
Access Control	Clear → Complicated	Simple barriers (locks, gates) are Clear; Multi-layered access configurations are Complicated
Territorial Reinforcement	Complicated → Liminal	Design cues signal ownership; interacts with emergent social dynamics
Maintenance	Clear	Best practices and work rules as fixed constraints manage upkeep of spaces
Social Cohesion	Complex	Emerges through trust, interaction, and shared narratives; not engineered
Community Culture	Complex → Liminal	Emergent identity shaped by interactions and meaning; shallow dive into Liminal to disrupt outdated culture paradigms, beliefs
Threshold Capacity	Complicated → Liminal	Expert use of governing constraints to manage spatial dynamics; if thresholds are breached, shifts to Complex to understand why
Connectivity	Complex	Ownership and stewardship emerge through lived experience and distributed decision-making

Clear Domain (Sense-Categorize-Respond)

Routine physical work such as grass cutting, changing broken lighting fixtures or the installation of new security cameras
Activities follow best practices and are well documented with clear, predictable outcomes

Complicated Domain (Sense-Analyze-Respond)

Complicated problems require expert analysis, such as understanding the underlying causes of crime in a specific area
Solutions may involve consulting with criminologists or urban planners to develop tailored strategies based on data and expertise
Domain where a business case is developed with idealistic future state, linear roadmap, milestones, targets KPIs, causal assumptions (e.g., visibility deters crime)

When a complicated territorial structure shows signs of malperformance, move into liminal zone to find out why from stakeholders
Probe to learn what has changed and discuss possible solutions
Take the time to avoid premature convergence before returning to Complicated and implementing new solution

Complex Domain (Probe-Sense-Respond)

Complex problems involve social dynamics that are not easily addressed through straightforward interventions
Building social cohesion and connections requires iterative processes, experimentation, and community engagement
Narrative data collected as stories monitor progress

Diversity is key for a healthy vibrant culture but new arrivals may feel unwelcomed due to language barriers, racial bias or ignorance, etc.
Ice-breaking events are conducted in liminal to help shake loose old paradigms, beliefs
By opening minds in a positive way, solutions may emerge over time as the community learns and adapts together

Chaotic Domain (Act-Sense-Respond)

In chaotic situations such as a civil riot, gun battle between rival gangs in a neighbourhood, immediate action is necessary to restore order
- This could involve deploying law enforcement or executing emergency preparedness plans to stabilize the situation
- Once order is restored, efforts can shift to understanding the underlying issues and applying more sustainable solutions.

This domain represents uncertainty about a sense of direction and where to head next
Consists of 2 states of uncertainty
- Confused: Not knowing that you are confused
- Aporetic: Acknowledging you are confused and assessing the next right thing to do
Domain entry from:
- Chaotic
  - Act of stabilizing a situation is basically moving into this domain
- Clear
  - Confused because problem encountered cannot be solved by following given rules and practices
- Complicated
  - Experts tasked to resolve problem are unable to find a solution and don’t know what to do next
- Complex
  - Aporetic to assess gathering of more information or patiently awaiting for arrival of new information
  - Engaging with various perspectives to determine the appropriate course of action

Overarching CPTED strategy to improve safety and security in communities
- Strengthen Robustness
  - Informed by CPTED 1st Generation principles
  - Actions that take place in the Clear and Complicated side of Cynefin
  - Use "Mechanic" methods and tools
- Build Resilience
  - Informed by CPTED 2nd Generation principles
  - Actions that take place in the Complex and Chaotic side of Cynefin
  - Use "Gardener" methods and tools

Contextual Understanding
- By situating problems in the correct domain, Cynefin helps practitioners understand the context of safety issues
- Identify suitable domain problem-solving method (S-C-R, S-A-R, P-S-R, A-S-R)

Encouraging Innovation
- Complex domain methods and tools available to safe-to-fail experimentation, exaptive discovery
- Complexity science enables innovative solutions to social problems to emerge

Improved Decision-Making
- Clear guidance on navigating uncertainty allows for better decision-making in dynamic environments

Action Research oriented
- Cynefin supports Learn by Doing (Praxis)
- Action forms are available to design interventions for each domain