Leadership Strategies for Solving the Wicked Problem of Poverty

This document discusses the wicked problem of poverty and explores effective leadership strategies for solving it. It examines the characteristics of poverty as a wicked problem and discusses the application of the competing values framework. The document also provides potential implications and resolutions for this social issue.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
LEADERSHIP
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

MANAGEMENT 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Description of identified ‘social or business issue’.........................................................................4
Discussion of wicked problem characteristics.................................................................................6
‘Social or business issue’ problem is a wicked problem.................................................................9
application of competing values framework..................................................................................10
Implication and interplay of identified competing values.............................................................12
Resolution......................................................................................................................................13
Potential leadership implications...................................................................................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
References......................................................................................................................................16
Appendices....................................................................................................................................19

MANAGEMENT 3
Executive Summary
Poverty is one of the most rapidly spreading problems in the current scenario. It is one of the
biggest wicked problems as the process of solving it is very difficult and complicated. It is tough
for the Government and other policy framing bodies to find out the exact solution for solving this
issue. It is also because of the fact that the root cause of these issues is very hazy and there is no
single reason that can be traced behind the large scale poverty. Though the Government is
developing many Anti Poverty schemes there are some loopholes in the channels and the leaders
looking after these channels. Thus proper leadership strategies have to be developed in order to
reach a resolution of this wicked issue.

MANAGEMENT 4
Introduction
Poverty is one of the major problems that are present in the different parts of the world.
Chant and Datu (2015) is of the opinion that several people die every year due to hunger. They
are unable to get the minimum acceptable standard of living. In other words, there is a lack of
concern and the responsibility of the Government and the other organizations to fight against this
problem. Thus more efforts have to be taken so that people fighting with this wicked problem of
poverty can be given some kinds of support (Narayan, 2017). A wicked problem is a social or
cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve for as many as four reasons: incomplete
or contradictory knowledge, the number of people and opinions involved, the large economic
burden, and the interconnected nature of these problems with other problems. Humphries (2017)
has stated in this context that poverty is a social issue and many organizations are trying to deal
with this issue. However, it is becoming tough for them as the solutions that are undertaken are
often very superficial. They are not able to reach to all the people who are suffering from this
issue of poverty in different parts of the worlds. Thus there is the need for a greater lookout or
effort in this aspect.
Description of identified ‘social or business issue’
Wilson (2016) is of the opinion that this issue of poverty is becoming of major social
concern because people leading their lives under poverty are unaware about the policies or the
different kinds of advantages that are being set for them (Si et al., 2018). For instance, even if
there are Government funded free schooling and education system being developed in the remote

MANAGEMENT 5
regions the majority of the people are still send their children to work can earn money for the
family. Gilley, Dixon, and Gilley (2008). has argued in this similar context that this happens
because either the poor people are not properly made aware about the facilities or the officials
appointed for enforcing these policies are corrupt in nature and use up the money for their
personal benefits.
As per the analysis of the Australia 2018 report, it can be said that that a larger section of
the Australian population is still leading their lives under the poverty line. This is evident from
the fact that these people are denied the basic necessities of life like food, clothing, and shelter. 3
million of the total population in Australia still leads their lives under the poverty line. They
do not get sufficient opportunities to be represented in the social institutions like schools,
colleges, markets, and other employment opportunities. This is evident in the fact that the job or
employment opportunities among the people of Australia society are not properly distributed.
Nearly 40 per cent of the 739,000 children who live below the poverty line come from sole
parent households. Knight, Chabot, and Shoveller (2017) have argued in this context saying
that the Government of Australia pays sure importance on these issues and have led the
foundation of many policies that would help poverty-stricken people to fight with their
sufferings. However, Ravallion (2017) has counter-argued in this similar context putting forward
the issue of Youth Allowance.
In other terms, the Youth Allowance scheme is surely implemented by the Government
of Australia but is not properly channelized or distributed among the citizens. This has resulted
in a large section of the Australian population to stay totally devoid of or get a very little or
negligible amount of money as the Youth Allowance scheme. Sugita and Takahashi (2015) have
also stated in the similar context that through Australian Government has implemented the Social

MANAGEMENT 6
Security payment scheme it is not properly being channelized. As a result of this 35 % of people
who receive social security, payments are living below the poverty line, including a massive 63
% of those receiving Youth Allowance (Gregory, Matthew & Baguley, 2018).
Western (2019) has also stated that poverty is a business issue as well. Business firms or
the big MCs also contribute to increasing the wickedness of poverty. Bolden (2016) has argued
in this context that many business houses in the modern day scenario are engaged in CSR. They
are taking active steps in lending money to the sick and the poor sections of the society. However
Shamir, Arthur, and House (2018). counter-argued saying that these are the same companies who
do not pay a good salary to the workers. Many of the workers have to work in very unsafe and
poor conditions. The business managers do not take proper safety precautions in order to reduce
their expenditure.
Discussion of wicked problem characteristics
According to Rittel and Webber’s formation in 1973(Camillus, 2008), there are 10
characteristics of this wicked problem poverty. They are
1. The wicked problem is not having definite formation
Knight and Shoveller (2017) have suggested that wicked problems are certain issues which do
not have any well defined or clear root cause. It is a tough job to find out the exact causes or the
reasons behind poverty. Naranjo-Valencia, Jiménez-Jiménez, and Sanz-Valle (2016) have argued
that there are some reasons like noiselessness, lack of education, lack of employment opportunity
and many others . However, Rylko-Bauer and Farmer (2016) have stated that it is still not clear

MANAGEMENT 7
as to why housing or employment opportunities are not available to all the people. It is an issue
of social concern
2. Wicked problems have no stopping rule.
The rules flat have been set for dealing with this issue of poverty often do not bring sufficient
results. Though Government has implement rules like Disability act, Social security payment
schemes, Unemployment pension acts and others, a larger section of people in the society are
still under the poverty line.
3. Solutions to the wicked problem are better or worse but not true-or-false
There are many stakeholders involved in the process of solving poverty. In other words, the
money that is sanctioned by the Government has to pass through many stages before it can reach
the final destination that is the receiver. Thus there is a large scale dependency on the middlemen
or the stakeholders who are involved in these chains of poverty eradicating measures.
4. Each wicked problem is unique itself and it is no ultimate test for solutions
There is no evidence that any of the poverty eradicating measures will last longer or not. In other
words, there is no such testing or examining process available to check if the solution measures
will be lasting for a permanent time span (Grayson & Hodges, 2017).
5. Every solution to a wicked problem is counted significantly
The solution measures that are established to solve the wicked problem of poverty often leave
any marks behind. In other words, there cannot be the implementation of any particular solutions
without leaving any undesirable traces. For instance, if the Government agencies are focusing on
the disability fund schemes, there might be a dissatisfaction related among the able-bodied single

MANAGEMENT 8
parented family group. They might feel that just because they are disabled they are not be
entitled to a good amount of money. Hus, there is evidence that in order to solve the issue at one
place there will be traces of new problems arising in the other
6. Wicked problem does not have an enumerable
The entire process of solving the wicked issue that is poverty is very complicated. Poverty is a
long spread issue and has its branches spread across different layers of society. Thus it is tough
for the investigation bodies and the governing bodies to find out any parameter for checking the
viability of the solution measures.
7. Every wicked problem can be considered to be symptoms of another problem
Poverty in different forms is interrelated. In other words, the effect of poverty happening in one
layer of society is said to be the effect of another. For example, the Government agencies might
have to spend some extra funds for strengthens the pension scheme of the disabled people. This
will naturally make them adjust it by reducing the amount of money granted to single-parent
families. Thus people falling under the latter category of poverty will naturally get dissatisfied
because of these effects.
8. The wicked problem has more than one explanation
There is no specific reason or root cause valuable for the occurrence of poverty. Thus it becomes
very difficult for the Governing agencies to find out the right solution for the abolishing of this
wicked problem.

MANAGEMENT 9
9. The existence of a discrepancy representing a wicked problem can be described in
various ways
Different stakeholders are of different opinions regarding solving of this problem. Thus they feel
that there are multiple ways of dealing with this issue. Due to the presence of so many different
opinions lead to chaos and issues in the path of the problem.
10. The social planner has no right to be wrong (planner are responsible for the
consequences of their actions)
This characteristic feature is often not possible to be implemented in the practical world.
Provided the fact that poverty is existing in a huge and a complicated way in different parts of
the society it is tough for a planner to plan the exact solution. He is often under the burden of
planning some methods that would solve this issue. However, it is expected that he will never be
wrong. This is not always possible in the real-life scenario as dealing with poverty needs a
collaborative, quick and effective implementation.
‘Social or business issue’ problem is a wicked problem
del Rosario and René (2017) has suggested that on average, 730,000 children suffer a lot
in Australia due to poverty. Fotaki and Jingji (2018) has argued in this context that there is a
differentiation in this classification of poverty. They are taking active steps in lending money to
the sick and the poor sections of the society. However Shamir, Arthur, and House (2018).
counter-argued saying that these are the same companies who do not pay a good salary to the

MANAGEMENT 10
workers. The rate of child poverty is different among different classes of society. It must be
noted in this context that the child poverty section in Australia is also not event distributed. De
Grosbois (2016) has suggested in this context that the rate of poverty among the Australian kids
is more among the single parented family.
application of competing values framework
Competing Values Framework (CVF) can be used to deal with this wicked problem
poverty (Refer to Appendix figure 2). However, it is the duty of the Government or the different
other policy framers to make sure that they are not taking a long time in dealing with this. As it is
already evident that there is a large section of the Australian population leading their lives in
extremely poor and unimaginable conditions, some immediate efforts have to be taken in order
to deal with this issue.
Collaborate or clan
The CEOs or the top level managers of the MNCs can be considered as important players
of this part of the framework. The clan or collaborative couture pay less importance on the
structure and focus more on the values, mission, goals, and objectives. Their main objective is to
work as a family and put forward a joint collaborative effort to promote the welfare of the
people. Thus, they value the collaborative or the group based effort that can be put forward to
dwell with this wicked problem.

MANAGEMENT 11
Create or Adhocracy
This is the most crucial part of the framework that must be exercised to deal with the
wicked problem that is poverty. Peters and Pierre (2014) have suggested that even after taking
repeated efforts of supporting the disabled people, unemployed people to abolish poverty, there
is a large scale of population leading their lives under the poverty line. 40% of the disabled
citizens are leading their lives in utter poverty. Often there is a delay in the implementation of
these services. Thus agencies like banks and other financial institutions must develop a
proper team or group approach. This will help them in facing the challenges and looking for
immediate results rather than waiting for the long term processes. The leaders or managers
working in the banks and other such financial and money lending institutions have to develop a
visionary, supportive way that will help them in speeding up the rate of the processes.
Control or Hierarchy
Government is in the topmost position of Hierarchy or the controlling part of the
framework. However, it is evident that tough the Australian Government has implemented many
new schemes for dealing with poverty there are problems existing at different levels. Carey
(2018) has stated that there is s alack in the monitoring, controlling and the evaluation aspect of
the Government. Day et al. (2014) have agreed to this saying that the Government of Australia
has so many anti-poverty and anti-disability schemes for dealing with the issue of poverty,
however, it is still shameful to see that 40% of the receives of Disability pension are struggling.
This is either because of the issue in the process of getting them enrolled in the allowance
scheme, problems in the implementation of the process and also the amount of money being

MANAGEMENT 12
received. Thus there is a gap in the knowledge of the budget planners of the social security
system while they are calculating the support pensions.
Compete or market
This part of the framework deals with stakeholders who are concerned about delivering
the results and the value without letting any delay to get in between. Organizations like the
World Bank can be said to work in this part of the framework. This is because they look after the
speedy recovery of people from the wicked problem that is poverty, infrastructure, health,
education, and agriculture. They have divides their entire function into such smaller units. This
will help them in focusing on a large number of people who are subjected to poverty.
Implication and interplay of identified competing values
1. Adhocracy must be developed in the modern fast-paced scenario because proper
flexibility is needed for the smooth functioning of the solution measures. In order to
make the system run smoothly, clan culture or collaboration is required. Without unity
and collaborative effort, it will not be possible for the Government to solve the wicked
issue. Above all, a proper controlling or hierarchy is needed to make sure that the safety
measures are being properly maintained and carried on.

MANAGEMENT 13
Resolution
 Education and awareness facilities are to be increased. Government and other Anti
Poverty bodies like UNESCO, World Bank must conduct awareness programs so that the
poverty-stricken people are able to gain proper access to the benefits (Ravallion, 2016).
 Awareness against child labour must and proper family planning system must be
developed so that the poor people can increase their standard of living.
 Better trading facilities are to be established. There must be an effort to boost up the
handloom and the small-scale industries to appoint men, women, and children living in
the remote and poverty-stricken places.
 Proper access to the basic social services like health, education, schooling, sanitation, and
others must be initiated. Local social and political organizations must raise funds that
would help in giving some additional funds to these people
 Free schooling facilities, distribution of free books, coppices, clothes, and other study
materials must be promoted in order to deal with this issue
 Proper evaluation and monitoring facility must be developed so that the Government can
keep a check upon the free and smooth functioning of the Anti Poverty fighting systems
and agencies.

MANAGEMENT 14
Potential leadership implications
Transformational leadership
Transformational leadership approach is one of the most relevant approaches' to be used
for dealing with this issue of poverty. People all over the world are suffering from poverty
provided the fact that there are many policies and anti-poverty acts that have been implemented.
Thus it is essential for the leaders to bring about a change in the already existing system of
dealing with poverty.
 Community building
o Leaders must always focus on community building so that they can move forward
with a joint collaborative effort. Leading community service projects and
campaigns can be invaluable experiences for aspiring educational leaders. They
must involve all the stakeholders by taking their opinion and feedbacks while
formulating the poverty eradication methods. Companies like UNESCO ad
WORLD BANK are focusing on a properly structured community set up that will
help them to create a proper communication channel for reaching out to these
people.
 Design thinking
o A true leadership trait is to carry on the process of innovation and creation.
Leaders working in the Anti-poverty cells must always try to follow the method
of constant improvement so that they can succeed in developing effective and
innovative. They have to set up some evaluation departments who will be

MANAGEMENT 15
collecting real data by undertaking surveys and interviews with people leaving
under the poverty line. This will help them in knowing the grievances of people
and the actual improvements that they are looking for.
 Process management
Leaders will have to conduct proper education and training facilities for the stakeholders
who are involved in the poverty eradicating channels. Proper feedback sessions must be carried
on that will be helping the Government and other agencies to take a proper follow up regarding
the issues that are persisting in the solution measures.
Conclusion
Thus it can be concluded that poverty is a social evil that is present in different parts of
society. It can be rightfully termed as the wicked problem because finding the exact root cause or
the solution of the problem is really very difficult. Thus efforts have to be jointly by the
Government, policy framers and the different other bodies like World Bank, UNESCO, and
others. There is some weakness lying in the channels via which the help is meant to reach to all
the poor people. Thus efforts have to make so that people living in different parts of the world
are made aware of the right procedures of claiming their pensions. There must be proper
inspection and investigation system initiated by the Government who will be able to find out the
errors or corruption creeping into the pathways of eradicating the wicked issue that is poverty.

MANAGEMENT 16
References
Bolden, R. (2016). Leadership, management and organisational development. In Gower
handbook of leadership and management development (pp. 143-158). Routledge.
Carey, M. C. (2018). Journalism as Connectivity: Encouraging Inclusivity in Local News
Coverage of Poverty and Other Social Issues.
Chant, S., & Datu, K. (2015). Women in cities: prosperity or poverty? A need for multi-
dimensional and multi-spatial analysis. In The city in urban poverty (pp. 39-63). Palgrave
Macmillan, London.
Day, D. V., Fleenor, J. W., Atwater, L. E., Sturm, R. E., & McKee, R. A. (2014). Advances in
leader and leadership development: A review of 25 years of research and theory. The
leadership quarterly, 25(1), 63-82.
De Grosbois, D. (2016). Corporate social responsibility reporting in the cruise tourism industry:
a performance evaluation using a new institutional theory based model. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism, 24(2), 245-269.
del Rosario, R. S. M., & René, D. P. (2017). Eco-innovation and organizational culture in the
hotel industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 65, 71-80.
Fotaki, M., & Jingjit, R. (2018). Humanising Bureaucracy: Clan-Oriented Culture in the Thai
Civil Service. In Public Policy in the'Asian Century' (pp. 151-183). Palgrave Macmillan,
London.

MANAGEMENT 17
Gilley, A., Dixon, P., & Gilley, J. W. (2008). Characteristics of leadership effectiveness:
Implementing change and driving innovation in organizations. Human Resource
Development Quarterly, 19(2), 153-169.
Grayson, D., & Hodges, A. (2017). Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make corporate
social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.
Gregory, K. P., Matthew, S. M., & Baguley, J. A. (2018). Analysis of the costs of veterinary
education and factors associated with financial stress among veterinary students in
Australia. Australian veterinary journal, 96(1-2), 11-16.
Humphries, B. (2017). Re-thinking social research: anti-discriminatory approaches in research
methodology. Routledge.
Kelloway, E. K., Weigand, H., McKee, M. C., & Das, H. (2013). Positive leadership and
employee well-being. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(1), 107-117.
Knight, R., & Shoveller, J. (2017). Health Promotion Ethics. Health Promotion in Canada: New
Perspectives on Theory, Practice, Policy, and Research, 374.
Knight, R., Chabot, C., & Shoveller, J. (2017). Qualitative research with young men about sexual
health. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Marris, P. (2018). Dilemmas of social reform: poverty and community action in the United
States. Routledge
Naranjo-Valencia, J. C., Jiménez-Jiménez, D., & Sanz-Valle, R. (2016). Studying the links
between organizational culture, innovation, and performance in Spanish companies.
Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 48(1), 30-41.

MANAGEMENT 18
Narayan, D. (2017). Poverty is powerlessness and voicelessness. In Development Ethics (pp.
117-120). Routledge.
Peters, B. G., & Pierre, J. (2014). Food policy as a wicked problem: contending with multiple
demands and actors. World Food Policy, 1(1), 4-11.
Ravallion, M. (2016). The World Bank: Why it is still needed and why it still disappoints.
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 30(1), 77-94.
Ravallion, M. (2017). Poverty comparisons. Routledge.
Rylko-Bauer, B., & Farmer, P. (2016). Structural violence, poverty, and social suffering. The
Oxford handbook of the social science of poverty, 47-75.
Shamir, B., Arthur, M. B., & House, R. J. (2018). The rhetoric of charismatic leadership: A
theoretical extension, a case study, and implications for research. In Leadership Now:
Reflections on the Legacy of Boas Shamir (pp. 31-49). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Si, S., Cullen, J., Ahlstrom, D., & Wei, J. (2018). Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Toward Poverty Reduction: Papers for the Special Issue, deadline September 15, 2018.
Sugita, M., & Takahashi, T. (2015). Influence of corporate culture on environmental
management performance: An empirical study of japanese firms. Corporate Social
Responsibility and Environmental Management, 22(3), 182-192.
Western, S. (2019). Leadership: A critical text. SAGE Publications Limited.

MANAGEMENT 19
Wilson, C. M. (2016). Enacting critical care and transformative leadership in schools highly
impacted by poverty: An African-American principal’s counter narrative. International
Journal of Leadership in Education, 19(5), 557-577.
Appendices
Appendix 1
Poverty is a wicked issue

MANAGEMENT 20
Appendix 2
CVF Framework