Tamed and Wicked: A Study on Strategic and Operational Decision Making

This study focuses on the strategic and operational decision making for tamed and wicked problems. The strategic problem is high employee turnover, while the operational problem is high operational wastage. The decision making approach used is qualitative, and the process involves problem identification, criteria definition, alternative generation and evaluation, and implementation. The study recommends the use of TQM and lean principles to mitigate the operational issue of high wastage.

Tamed and wicked
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Strategic meeting.............................................................................................................................1
Overview of the Strategic meeting and the specific problem.................................................1
Nature of the Strategic problem.............................................................................................2
Decision Making Approach....................................................................................................2
Decision Making Process.......................................................................................................4
Operational meeting.........................................................................................................................5
Overview of the Operational meeting and the specific problem............................................5
Nature of the Operational problem.........................................................................................5
Decision Making Approach....................................................................................................5
Decision Making Process.......................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................7
Based on Strategic meeting....................................................................................................7
Based on operational meeting................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
It has been seen that forming a suitable strategy and coming up with an effective decision
making rewires a systematic process of gathering information, assessing different alternatives
and resolution and identifying a suitable decision based on step by step process (Wexler and
Oberlander, 2020). The current project comprises of a strategic meeting and an operational
meeting that are focused on evaluating specific problems that are tamed or wicked in nature. The
strategic problem selected for current project is based on high employees turnover while the
operational meeting comprises of assessing about the issue of high operational wastage.
Strategic meeting
Overview of the Strategic meeting and the specific problem
Strategic meeting tends to related with executing and implicating the improvement within
the current strategy of a firm. With respect to the current meeting the main focus and emphasis
is on the rising issue and problem of the increasing employee turnover within the organisation. It
has been seen that the global pandemic of the Covid-19 has create a higher level of de-
motivation and dissatisfaction among the employees along with leading higher threat and issues
related with their safety and health concern which is resulting in form of the strategic issue of the
high employee turnover (Suoheimo, 2019). Thus, lack of motivation and ineffective engagement
strategy are taken as the main background behind these rising strategic issue of high employee
turnover. Further, a discussion and review of the main impacts and consequences created and
lead out by the high employee turnover has been also need to be made within the current
strategic meeting. Based on the review of current strategic meeting it has been analysed that
decreased productivity level along with the increase within the cost of recruitment of new staff
are major threat of high employee turnover. Further, it has been also discussed that the
consequences related with the time spent on training and orientation of new employees are also
the major concern related with the issue of high employee turnover. Along with this, the CEO,
key directors along with the executive team are liable and responsible for attending the strategic
meeting who tend to form an integral part of the discussion and analysis made on the specific
strategic problem. It has been seen that the strategic issue of the high employee turnover is
mainly concerned with the Human resource management thus, it become vital for the heads and
managers of the HRM department to specific attend the current strategic meeting along with all
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the all the directors and management staff who are responsible for effective formulation of
strategy to overcome the concern related with high employee turnover (Sølvberg, 2018).
Nature of the Strategic problem
The strategic problem that has been discussed and evaluated in current strategic meeting is
based on issue of high employee turnover that tend to be seemed as a tamed problem that is
having many dimensions and reasons behind it but still a definite solution can be find out for its
mitigation based on known algorithms. On the other hand, the wicked problem is the one for
which there is no known set of algorithm or specific strategy to solve it along with having an
unknown set of the potential consequences that make it difficult to define and frame a problem.
Implication and use of the key characteristics of the wicked and tame problem has been made
within current meeting to specify the current problem as tamed or wicked (Damania and et. al.,
2019).
It has been seen that the strategic issue of high employee turnover tend to have a specific
set of reasons as well as certain known consensuses thus, this characteristic makes it a tamed
problem rather that a wicked one that does not have any specific set of reasons or consequences.
It has been discussed and find out that the main reason behind the issues of high employee
turnover is ineffective motivation in employees along with lack of proper employee engagement
strategy thus, based on this criterion it belongs to the category of tamed problem. Apart from
this, a discussion can also be made that the main impacts and consequences of the issue of high
employee turnover comprises of the reduction in the productivity level along with the higher cost
and expenditure on the recruitment and orientation of new employees. Thus, the main
consequences and results of the current problem of high employee turnover are also known
therefore, it belongs to tamed category of problem that can be solved and mitigate through
applying a correct set of algorithms and strategy (Creasy, 2018).
Decision Making Approach
The decision making approach tend to comprises and includes the process of the making
choice based on the analysis and review of the pros and cons of all possible set of alternative
solutions. Further, it has been seen that implicating and come up with a step by step decision
making process and approach tend to be helpful within a strategic meeting as it supports
undertaking of a more deliberate and thoughtful decision making. Qualitative and quantitative
are two main forms and set of decision making approach qualitative decision making and
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strategy formulation is concerned with the reputation, brad strength and implicating the
employee morale. On the other hand, the quantitative nature of the decision making approach is
the one that is tend to be concerned with the quantifiable figures such as the sales, profitability,
return on investment (Yawson, 2018).
Based on the nature of the current strategic problem comprising of the issue of high
employee turnover making use of the qualitative approach of decision making is seemed more
suitable and effective. Applications and use of the qualitative way of decision making approach
within current strategic meeting tend to supports and provide a high level of subjective
judgements to effectively analysis and evaluate the company prospects based on non-quantifiable
information to reach and select a more suitable way and strategy for overcoming the set problem.
The step applied and followed under the implication of the qualitative nature of decision making
approach within current strategic meeting in context of issue of high employee turnover
comprises of clearly defining the current problem in a specific manner. The defining of the
problem comprises of the reviewing about the main factors and reasons behind its creation along
with determining its key consequences and impacts. Lack of motivation in the employees along
with the ineffective employee engagement strategic are taken as the main factors and reasons
behind leading of the issue of high employee turnover. Further, this stage of qualitative decision
making approach within current strategic meeting has also provided a discussion about the key
impacts and consequences of the high employee turnover that tend to include of higher
expenditure on recruitment and training of new employees along with reduction in the
productivity and sales level of a firm (Goodyear and Markauskaite, 2019). After this, a list of all
the possible alternatives are made within current strategic meeting based on the qualitative
method of decisions making to effectively analysis and evaluate all the possible pros and cons.
Use and implication of the intuitive approach has been made within current meeting which
comprises and based on mental and experiential capacity to read meanings into observed patterns
and derive solutions. Based on application of this qualitative nature of decision making approach
it has been derived that adoption of effective strategy such as providing regular rewards and
incentives to employees along with focusing more on the training and development of employees
tend to supports effective models to mitigate and overcome the current strategic problem and
issue of the high employee turnover.
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Decision Making Process
The use and application of the qualitative decision making approach tend to comprises of
the process which includes defining of the issues along with creating a list of possible
alternatives to identify and come up with the application of a suitable model to overcome the
issue of the high employee turnover. A comparison of the used qualitative decision making
process could be made with the Williams Rational Problem Solving Process that tend to includes
the four main steps that has been provided as below:
 Problem identification- It forms the first part where a specific problem is being identified
during a strategic meeting. In current strategic meeting, high employee turnover is the
identified problem.
 Criteria or objective definition- This stage tend to set and fix out a set objective and
criteria that is tend to achieved as a result of strategic meeting thus provide direction for
strategy formulation. Ensuring and overcoming the issue of high employee turnover is set
objective and criteria for current strategic meeting (Slaper, 2019).
 Alternative generation and evaluation- This stage comprises of the having a deep
discussion about the various possible alternative along with having evaluation of its pros
and cons. In context of current problem, providing rewards to motivate employees is a
possible solution but it tends to be expensive in nature and leads to only short term
motivation. Further, providing training and growth opportunity is also a vital strategy that
supports higher confidence and commitment level in employees thus ensures higher
retention of employees.
 Implementation- It forms out the last stage of decision making process where the most
suitable strategy is being implemented. Based on current strategic meeting, making use of
the training and growth opportunity is implemented as it supports long term motivation
and improved commitment level in employees (Epting, 2021).
Based on the above discussion, it has been seen and evaluated that the applied qualitative
decision making approach tend to not have an effective evaluation and alternative generation
stage that tend to limit the scope of selection of most profitable and suitable solution to mitigate
the current strategic issue of high employee turnover.
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Operational meeting
Overview of the Operational meeting and the specific problem
The operational meeting is the one that comprises of a forum and group of computing staff
across the various units to discuss and mitigate the issues faced while day to day working
(Operational Meetings vs. Strategy Review Meetings: What’s the Difference?, 2021). The current
operational meeting tends to base on the specific problem of having too much wastage within the
operational activities such as production and distribution of the products. The key stakeholders
and people who are responsible to attend the current operational meeting tend to includes the
managers of all the operational units along with management staff and workforce. The
background and main reasons of high operational wastage tend to comprises and include of the
wrong handling of the materials along with a lack of coordination within the production and
distribution department that is creating and leading to higher wastage of resources in form of
higher leftover material. The main consequences and impact of the too much operational wastage
comprise of the higher operational expenditure and reduction in the overcall efficiency and
profitability level (Groeneveld, 2020).
Nature of the Operational problem
The current operational problem related with the high operational wastage tend to be a
tamed problem as a clear set of reasons are there which leads to higher operational wastage along
with the fact that its consequences and impact on organisation are also indefinable in nature.
Thus, based on the set criteria and characteristics of the tamed and wicked problem the issue of
high operational waste is tend to be tamed in nature as it has set reasons and consequences along
with fact that set of suitable approach and strategy can be adopted to resolve and mitigate this
particular issue.
Decision Making Approach
The decision making approach that has been applied and used within current operational
meeting is based on qualitative nature of the decision making approach. The first step of the
qualitative decision making approach tend to includes the describing of the specific problem that
comprises of high wastage that main reason behind which is lack of coordination within
operational units that leads to high leftover material. The next step of the process of the
qualitative decision making approach tend to comprises and include of the leading a list of
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possible alternatives. Application of the brainstorm qualitative technique has been made within
current operational meeting to come up with various ideas and alternatives to overcome the issue
of the high operations wastage. Application of the Brainstorming within current operational
meeting comprises of a group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion
for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its member.
Finally, implication and use of TQM and lean strategy are identified as key strategy and solution
for having a control and mitigation of the issue of high operational wastage (Suoheimo, 2019).
Decision Making Process
A comparison of the applied qualitative approach of decision making can be made with the
Williams Rational Problem Solving Process as it tend to miss out a vital stage and process of
evaluation and analysis of the set and identified alternatives.
 Problem identification- Huge operational wastage is the key issue identified in current
operational meeting.
 Criteria or objective definition- The set criteria comprise of making policy for having
reduction in wastage. Alternative generation and evaluation- This process reflects that implementation of
TQM is a complex and time consuming process thus applying the use of lean principles is
seemed to be most appropriate and suitable strategy to mitigate the operational issue of
high wastage (Sølvberg, 2018). Implementation- Implementation of Lean principle has been made by the management to
overcome the issue of the huge operational wastage.
It has been seen that during the qualitative approach of decision making only a list of
alternatives has been made out of which selection of one has been made without proper
analsysed of pros and cons of theses that leads to limited scope and ineffective selection and
decision making. Through application of the Williams Rational Problem Solving Process a
proper evaluation about various identified options and alternative can be made (Damania and et.
al., 2019).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of current project, a conclusion can be made that the main aim and focus of the
strategic meeting is on reviewing the goals, measuring the level of employee’s performance
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along with validation of the strategy related with employee management and other initiatives.
Further, a summarisation can be made that the tame problem is the one that can be solved by the
way of choosing and applying some set of correct algorithm along with the way of multiplying
the ingredients as well as changing the logistics to reach a set and effective solution. Finally, it
has been seen that operational meeting is tend to concern with the issues which are faced in day
to day operations and activities.
Recommendation
Based on Strategic meeting
On the basis of the current strategic meeting based on the discussion about the issue of
high employee turnover a recommendation can be made that focusing more on employee
motivation along with coming up with the effective employee engagement is suitable and
effective way to eliminate and mitigate this strategic problem. Further, based on strategic
meeting, it has been seen that application of the qualitative decision making approach based on
the use of the intuitive approach is not so effective as it does not provide a set technique to
evaluate the set alternatives (Creasy, 2018). Thus, making use and implication of the Williams
Rational Problem Solving Process has been also recommended and suggested to have better
evaluation of the set alternatives on the basis of which making use of training and growth
opportunity has been suggested as mist effective alternative to overcome the issue of high
employee turnover.
Based on operational meeting
On the basis of the operational meeting, making use of the Lean principles has been
suggested and recommended as most suitable way to overcome the issue of high operational
wastage. Based on current operational meeting, it has been suggested that Lean management
helps to align production process with customer expectations and reducing waste while
increasing efficiency.
REFERENCES
Books and journal
Creasy, R., 2018. Towards Wicked Education. In The Taming of Education (pp. 177-203).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Damania, R. and et. al., 2019. Policies to Tame a Wicked Problem.
Epting, S., 2021. Wicked Technologies. In Saving Cities (pp. 5-16). Springer, Cham.
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Goodyear, P. and Markauskaite, L., 2019. The impact on practice of wicked problems and
unpredictable futures. In Challenging future practice possibilities (pp. 41-52). Brill
Sense.
Groeneveld, R.A., 2020. Welfare economics and wicked problems in coastal and marine
governance. Marine Policy, 117, p.103945.
Slaper, T., 2019. Rural economic development, wicked problems and complex adaptive
systems. Indiana Business Review, 94(3).
Sølvberg, A., 2018. The use of models and associated software in the design of wicked systems.
In Information Systems and Organizational Structure (pp. 411-423). De Gruyter.
Suoheimo, M., 2019. Strategies and Visual Tools to Resolve Wicked Problems. The
International Journal of Design Management and Professional Practice, 13(2), pp.25-41.
Wexler, M.N. and Oberlander, J., 2020. Public leadership and the wicked problem
continuum. International Journal of Public Leadership.
Yawson, R.M., 2018, April. Avoiding Cognitive Biases in Managing Wicked Problem
(Presentation Slides). In Proceedings of the 47th Northeastern Decision Sciences Institute
(NEDSI) Annual Conference (pp. 12-14).
Online:
Operational Meetings vs. Strategy Review Meetings: What’s the Difference?. 2021. [Online]
Available Through:< https://onstrategyhq.com/resources/operational-meetings-vs-
strategy-review-meetings-whats-the-difference/>.
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