Prof Simon French recognises "the value of the Cynefin framework in categorising decision contexts and identifying how to address many uncertainties in an analysis" and as such believes it builds on seminal works such as Russell L. Ackoff's Scientific Method: optimizing applied research decisions, C. West Churchman's Inquiring Systems, John Tukey's Exploratory data analysis, Douglas John White's Decision Methodology, and Mike Pidd's Tools for Thinking: Modelling in Management Science.[37]