“Wicked” ~ a word not used just as Bostonian slang, but also to term challenges so complex that they defy straightforward solutions.
New2Chnge directs our attention to social issues, implying that planning for change can get us solutions to these ‘problems’.
Unraveling the complex nature of social issues, In 1973, design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber introduced the term ‘wicked problem’ to capture the malignant nature of social planning and policy. These “wicked problems” are like looking through a kaleidoscope; the patterns change from every angle, just as social issues look different to each person. Even a small change in perspective can completely alter the picture. This essence of wicked problems shows that tackling social issues like those in STEM fields just doesn’t work. It’s led professionals in social action and policy astray, resulting in changes that worsen problems by ignoring the human factors at the core. It becomes evident that aiming for a singular solution was never the correct approach.
If any change we make changes the reality of the problem, then should we change anything at all? According to Rittel and Webber, “Social problems are never solved. At best, they are only re-solved – over and over again” (1973).
To read more, visit our main New2Chnge page and find the original document from Rittel and Webber, explaining the Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning*
– Katie
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