Sensemaking is a process of cognitively understanding and meaningfully interpreting signs and signals in the environment. It is an activity that helps individuals to craft meaning as they navigate their way through the bewildering array of information and events that constantly bombard them. Sensemaking is more than collecting and interpreting data; it is critical for helping us make sense out of what we observe and anticipate the implications of our decisions. It helps us to understand, synthesize, and respond flexibly to fast-paced, complex, and often ambiguous situations. In this sense, sensemaking is essential in today’s fluid, dynamic world.

See also: emergence, evolution, edge of chaos, proto b, free will