The Stacey Matrix

The Stacey Matrix

The Stacey Matrix was developed by Ralph Douglas Stacey as a way of understanding the factors that influence a project's complexity, based on two key elements: agreement of requirements and certainty of solution or technology. 

The Stacey Matrix places work/projects in four categories: simple, complicated, complex and anarchy. In today's VUCA world, most projects exist in this complex world of 'far from agreement' and 'far from certainty.' 

Self-organising teams that make use of an incremental and iterative delivery structure are extremely well-placed to tackle complex problems. The unknown variables of a project become known by consistently delivering value to the customer and receiving feedback. 

In much the same way, consistent increments, iterations, and feedback mean that solutions become more customer-centric and more value-driven, while also reducing the amount of time spent focusing on the wrong areas. The adaptability that comes with a self-organising team is crucial to getting to the bottom of problems efficiently and productively. 

But what do we mean by customer-centric? Who are the customers and who are the stakeholders? Let’s watch the next video to find out.  

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