Wicked Problem Essay

“Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them.”
--Laurence J. Peter

In my understanding, a wicked problem is one for which every attempt to create a solution changes our perspective of the problem. Thus, these problems cannot be solved with ‘the thinking, tools and methods’ we use to solve simpler problems. To solve such wicked problems we need a systematic approach that includes creative brainstorming. Using the ‘Design Thinking’ approach can help craft the path that would lead to a sensible solution. Horst Rittel, the man who coined the term ‘wicked problem’ said wicked problems are distinguished by the following characteristics: * You don’t understand the
problem until you have developed a solution. * Wicked problems have no stopping rule * Solutions to wicked problems are not ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ * Every wicked problem is essentially unique and novel * Every solution to a wicked problem is a ‘one-shot operation’ * Wicked problems have no given alternative solutions
The fight against Terrorism is a wicked problem. The more we try to fight it, the more solutions we try to find there is always a new scenario that requires us to change our angle of thoughts. When terrorism first began people assumed it was a fight against freedom and democracy. Later we thought that the terrorists themselves are some sort of freedom fighters trying to liberate our thoughts. The range of opinions and points of view about dealing with terrorism makes it a wicked problem. There is a lot we can do, and there is a lot we have done; but nothing ever seems to have changed. For example, the Constitution of the United States of America clearly disagrees to negotiations with terrorists. This amendment was set in place to discourage terrorists from leveraging the government to give into their demands. But this never discouraged terrorist attacks on US soil? The question every country spends millions of dollars to get an answer to is ‘How do we stop terrorism?’
Terrorism isn’t a fairly new thing.
History proves that terrorism existed right from the Stone Age. If a systematic approach was used to solve this problem, an answer would be with us. “One person’s terrorist could be another person’s freedom fighter, role model etc.” (Kinsley 1). We can’t call these people ‘crazy’ and leave this fact out of our approach. It is necessary to get into the skin of these terrorists and figure out, using a very collaborative strategy, a solution that affects every citizen of this society. Collaborative Strategy, one of the strategies Roberts identified in a paper published in 2000, aims at engaging all stakeholders (in this context – world citizens) in order to find the best possible solution for all stakeholders. Typically, these approaches involve meetings in which issues and ideas are discussed and a common approach is formulated. Terrorism affects citizens more than it affects the government. Design approach suggests that a collaborative strategy may create chaos but solves problems better than other strategies. After all, a wicked problem itself is chaotic.
Taming this wicked problem is tough but by using a design approach we can create different criteria to approach the problem. Dr. Jeff Conklin identifies a few criteria in his book ‘Wicked Problems and Social Complexity’. These are a few ways to solve a wicked
problem: * Locking down a definition: Describing fighting terrorism is a fixed manner rather than different angles can make it a lot easier for the stakeholders to concentrate on finding the right solution. For example: since the problem is to fight terrorism, we should focus on problems like security and installation of better software. * Specify objective parameters by which to measure the solution’s success: This is the measurement approach. For example: since we are try to fight against terrorism, we must start measuring if the deaths and injuries caused due to terrorism is going up or down. This helps locking down the problem. * Declare that there are a few possible solutions, and focus on selecting from among these options: For example: Should we kill the terrorists without worrying about Human Rights or should we let them take over the world? * Case the problem as ‘just like’ a previous solved problem: Filter out evidence that clouds the overall picture. For example: if there is an ongoing war against terrorism it should be treated as any war that we dealt with rather than giving it a different priority or meaning.
The above mentioned procedures become a part of a design system towards solving this problem. Facts that involve deaths and injuries can be an inspiration while other procedures involve brainstorming and execution.

Citation:
Kinsley, Michael. "Defining Terrorism." Slate Magazine 05 Oct. 2001: 1. Web. 6 Dec 2010. <http://www.slate.com/id/116697>.