Weick's seven properties of sensemaking (micro perspective)

(Advanced symbolic framework) Weick argues that individuals' sensemaking, their way of interpreting stimuli, has seven distinct aspects: Sensemaking is based on: 1. Identity: The identity of the individual will affect the way they respond to stimuli. If you are an A-student and fail a test, it might challenge your identity. One way of sensemaking is then to convince yourself that the grading was done poorly. 2. Retrospective: Sensemaking being retrospective means that when we are faced with stimuli, much of how we act is based on things in retrospect. What has happened when we have been in similar situations and how we handled those situations. 3. Enacting: Sensemaking is an active process based on and produces both stimuli and action. 4. Social: Sensemaking always involves other people. Even if just looking at artifacts, they are considered a media for human interaction. 5. Constantly ongoing: Sensemaking occurs continuously. 6. Based on cues: Noticing a snake and becoming afraid. In everyday life, body language etc. 7. Strives for plausibility over accuracy: We can never be entirely sure of the things we try to make sense of. E.g example with soldiers stuck on mountain, they valued the plausibility of the map being correct and following it rather than its actual accuracy.