A Case Study of Income and Wealth Inequality in Australia: LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM
LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM: A CASE STUDY OF THE WICKED
PROBLEM OF INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA
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1LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report focuses on the wicked problem of income and wealth inequality and also the
manner in which this could be resolved through the usage of adequate leadership approaches.
The report firstly introduces the wicked problem of income and wealth inequality in Australia
and also identifies its major characteristics. The report next takes the help of the Competing
Value Framework to suggest the manner in which the business enterprises can help in the
resolution of this wicked problem. Lastly, the report concludes with a discussion of the
manner in which the leaders can take the help of the distributive leadership approach for the
effective resolution of this wicked problem.

2LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Overview of the Wicked Problem..............................................................................................4
Wicked Problem Characteristics................................................................................................5
Justification of the wicked problem...........................................................................................6
Application of competing values framework to wicked problem..............................................7
Implication and interplay of identified competing values in the wicked problem...................10
Potential leadership implications.............................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................15

3LEADERSHIP AND WICKED PROBLEM
Introduction
As opined by Ward (2017), wicked problems can be defined as the kind of problems
whose root causes are very difficult to pinpoint however at the same time it is seen that they
adversely affect the stability or the status quo of the contemporary world. Head and Alford
(2015) are of the viewpoint that over the years it had been seen along with the development
of the contemporary world in different aspects like economic, social, technological and other
aspects the number problems that the world presently faces has increased in an exponential
manner. This is important because of the fact that these wicked problems greatly affect the
quality of lives that the individuals lead and also in the longer-run is likely to adverse effect
its entire existence itself (Edmondson, 2016). As opined by Rose (2017), some of the most
important wicked problems that the world is presently facing are poverty, climate change,
income and wealth inequality, gender pay gap, discrimination and others. As a matter of fact,
one of the most important wicked problems that the people in Australia is the high income
and wealth inequality which can be attributed to the differences in the wages and also the
individual wealth held by the people (Alford & Head, 2017). In this regard, it needs to be said
that the business enterprises and also the leaders because of the influence that they wield on
the contemporary society have a pivotal role to play in the resolution of this wicked problem
so as to make the concerned nation a better place to live in for its citizens (Puckett, 2017).
However, the major problem arises because of the fact that the leaders as well as the business
enterprises itself face different kinds of issues which in turn hinder the effective resolution of
this wicked problem. In the face of this, it becomes imperative for the different business
enterprises and also the leaders to formulate or develop effective leadership frameworks
which will help them to resolve the wicked problem that Australia is presently facing in the
best possible manner. This paper intends to analyse the wicked problem of income and