Wicked Problem: Poverty and its Implications

This essay explores the concept of wicked problems, focusing on poverty as a major wicked problem. It discusses the characteristics of wicked problems, the interplay of competing values in addressing poverty, and the potential leadership implications in tackling this complex issue. The essay emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to reduce poverty and its impact on various aspects of society.

Running Head: Wicked Problem 0
Wicked Problem
Essay
Student name

Wicked Problem 1
Executive Summary
Poverty is a huge wicked problem in the world and it is necessary to remove it from
whole world. It is affecting many things of a nation, such as economy. This essay will explain
about the wicked problem. It will explain about the characteristics of wicked problem.
This essay will describe potential leadership implications in later section. It is also
provide framework to understand poverty and its implications.

Wicked Problem 2
Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Description of identified ‘social or business issue’ problem...........................................................2
Discussion of wicked problem characteristics as applying to ‘social or business issue’ problem. .2
Discussion and justification that ‘social or business issue’ problem is a wicked problem.............2
Discussion of application of competing values framework to wicked problem..............................2
Discussion of implication and interplay of identified competing values in the wicked problem....2
Discuss potential leadership implications........................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

Wicked Problem 3
Introduction
A wicked problem is a problem, which is most difficult or impossible to resolve. It is not
solve properly because of many reasons, such as incomplete, changing requirements, and
contradictory, which are often difficult to recognize. Wicked word is used here to denote
resistance to resolution. In addition, wicked problem cannot solve because of interdependencies
and they create other problem (APSC, 2019).
This essay will explain about the wicked problem and its consequences. It will provide
description of identification, wicked problem characteristics, justification, application,
implications, and protection leadership implications.
Moreover, it will describe about the solution of wicked problem using different public
policies. It is a huge problem in front of world and it must have a solution to secure social and
commercial things.
Description of identified ‘social or business issue’ problem
I learnt that wicked problem is difficult to solve because of its complex independencies.
It is interlinked with other problems. It creates other problems, such as inequality. In addition,
poverty is a biggest issue in front of overall world. It is also depend on the economy of the
country. However, poverty is interlinked with other things, such as hunger, homeless, education,
and health. Poverty affects the social life and it is a social issue in front of most of the countries.
I learnt about the social issue, which is always in front of all the people, which is poverty.
Poverty means people unable to meet basic needs, such as education, clothing, shelter, food, and
health. In world, 815 million people are food insecure because of poverty. According to many
surveys, 25 percent of children are stunted in world and because of lack of food 8 million dies in
whole world (worldhunger.org, 2018).
In present era, more than 1 billion people are not having shelter and because of it, they
face physical and psychological problems. Another issue is education because of poverty. Based
on educational surveys, 264 million children and youth are unable to join schools. Poverty is also
affecting the health, as 400 million people do not have access to essential health services in

Wicked Problem 4
whole world. Because of lack of money, 6 percent population pushed into poverty because
paying for the health services from their pockets (Ana & Coughlan , 2018).
Discussion of wicked problem characteristics as applying to ‘social or
business issue’ problem
There are ten characteristics of wicked problems in social policy according to Rittel and
Webber’s formation in 1973 (Camillus, 2008). These are the characteristics:
1. Wicked problem are not having definite formation
2. Wicked problems have no stopping rule.
3. Solutions to wicked problem are better or worse but not true-or-false
4. Each wicked problem is unique itself and it is no ultimate test for solutions
5. Every solution to a wicked problem is counted significantly
6. Wicked problem do not have an enumerable
7. Every wicked problem can be considered to be symptoms of another problem
8. Wicked problem have more than one explanation
9. The existence of a discrepancy representing a wicked problem can be described by
various ways
10. The social planner has no right to be wrong (planner are responsible for their actions
consequences)
I learnt from all that characteristics that wicked problem is not having a proper solution
but they can reduce by proper actions on selected issues. It is observed that all the wicked
problems are interlinked and if we solve one problem then it creates new one, therefore,
balancing is so necessary to solve a wicked problem.
I learnt that poverty is a huge problem in front of world especially in developing
countries, such as Ghana, and many more. Those people wants basic needs, such as food, shelter,
educations, and health services to live properly. According to (Ana & Coughlan , 2018), wicked
problem is difficult to solve but it can be reduces or balanced with proper and effective actions of

Wicked Problem 5
government and other agencies. Poverty can be reduced by generating jobs and other works in
rural areas. Therefore, they can earn money and acquire basic services, such as food, education,
health, and shelter.
Source: (worldhunger.org, 2018)
I leant that because of climate change many things are happened with environment, such
as flood, bad weather conditions, and many more. I learnt that after flood and earthquakes are
happened, people are helpless and they did not have basic facilities, as they lost all things in the
crisis. However, government and international organisations are helping them to meet with basic
facilities, such as food, shelter and other services ( Guy Peters , 2017).
Discussion and justification that ‘social or business issue’ problem is a
wicked problem
I leant that wicked problems are near to impossible because they are increase day by day
and there is no proper monitoring and controlling on those issues. Poverty is increasing day by
day and it affects the other things, such as hunger, homeless, education, and health.

Wicked Problem 6
I leant that poverty is a social issues and it affects different things, such as economy,
environment, and many other things. It is not justify that government leave this problem and
consider only few things. Wicked problem is not resolve after unlimited efforts by people
because it has a big and unique problem. It is difficult to identify solutions of the problem but it
can be decrease using few methodologies.
Source: (leadacademy.nyc, 2018)
However, Poverty is a social issue in front of whole world. People are not social because
of fewer resources, such as food, education, health, and shelter. A hungry person is ready to do
anything, which is legal or illegal because of food. Education is also necessary to make people
social. Education is base of many things and poverty is blocking education in people (Peters &
Pierre, 2014).
I learnt that wicked problem is most difficult thing in world and poverty is interlinked
with many things. A person cannot do anything without money. In addition, because of less jobs
and works, people cannot earn money. Education is also affecting the level of poverty. Lack of
education is also a reason of poverty. They cannot get job because of lack of education. Because
of poverty, they cannot get proper education.

Wicked Problem 7
Discussion of application of competing values framework to wicked
problem
I leant about the competing values framework and it is a useful application to handle or
resolve a problem at level. Poverty is multidisciplinary and multifaceted. However, global
poverty is measured base on the incomes and expenditure. Competing Values Framework (CVF)
is having four parts, which are collaborate, create, complete, and control.
It has four directions to solve a problem, which are internal, external, flexible, and
focused. All are used to consider different approaches to mitigate the problem. In collaborate
(CLAN), long-term development plans are created to solve a wicked problem, such as education,
health and other things. In create (adhocracy); sudden action is required in few cases, such as
flood, bad weather conditions. As an example, Rohingya crisis is required fast action.
Source: (worldhunger.org, 2018)
Furthermore, in complete (Market), short-term goals are considered to reduce problem. It
provides fast results and overcome the effects of the problem. In control (hierarchy), incremental
goals are sets to overcome issue. It considered precautions for the problem. In case of poverty,
CVF is useful to reduce or overcome the impacts of poverty at country level and international
level ( Kolko , 2012).

Wicked Problem 8
Discussion of implication and interplay of identified competing values in
the wicked problem
I leant that there are many implication and interplay are identified to competing values in
the wicked problem. Poverty is attached with the many things, therefore, it require more
concentration to overcome it. It requires short-terms, long-term goals to handle it in a proper
way. Many stakeholders are responsible to reduce this social issue and convert it into a normal
situation. However, poverty is a long-term issue in front of governments.
Furthermore, poverty cannot remove from the world because of its complex
dependencies. World Bank is highly worried about this wicked problem and provides many
facilities to the developing countries to overcome global poverty level (Head, 2008).
I learnt that culture is also affecting the wicked problems. Clan culture leadership role is
affecting the problem. In long-term missions are helping to resolve the issues. The mentor is a
caring and empathetic. This person is provided knowledge about the problem; therefore, people
can involve in the problem solving and decision-making. Adhocracy culture is affecting the
problem in fast way. Innovator provides different innovation to overcome the wicked problem.
Poverty can be resolved by creating jobs and work for poor people. In hierarchy culture, the
coordinator is dependable and reliable person. He or she maintains the flow and structure of the
work. In market culture, the producer is work-focused and task oriented (Kelloway, Weigand,
McKee, & Das, 2013).
Discuss potential leadership implications
Leadership is matter a lot in solving poverty. It is a unique problem in front of whole
world. Therefore, everyone support to resolve this problem as soon as possible. There are many
potential implications in front of leaders (Day, Fleenor, Atwater, Sturm, & McKee, 2014). To
resolve poverty, it requires many things, such as good education, motivation, income, and many
others. A leader can provide few things to them but it is affecting the other aspects ( Cherry,
2018).
In addition, Leader can motivate them for education but requires money and time.
Therefore, many things to avail for resolve this problem (Clapp-Smith, Vogelgesang, & Avey,

Wicked Problem 9
2009). According to many survey, lack of education is a big reason of poverty. World Bank is
funding all those countries, which is below the poverty level ( Hoch, Bommer, & Dulebohn,
2016).
I learnt that transitional leadership is helpful for educating people and it will help in
resolving the poverty. Poverty can overcome with the help of good guidance and income source
(Gilley, Dixon, & Gilley, 2008). A leadership approach is change the scenario of the country or
area. Lack of innovations and education are the biggest reason of poverty (Bolden, 2016).
A good leader has few good qualities in them, which are as:
1. Have a vision in their works
2. Provide honest feedback
3. Willing to adopt changes
4. Priorities in communication
5. Ready to handle risks
All these things make a person a good leader. Leaders can change the culture and
thoughts of the people, which can helpful to remove poverty at a level. It can be reduce with the
help of short-term and long-terms goals of different stakeholders, such as local government,
national government, federal government, and international organizations.
Conclusion
It is concluded from the previous parts of this essay that wicked problems are unique and
it is difficult to solve them in a proper way. In addition, poverty is a biggest issue in between all
the issues in world. Therefore, some changes are requires to overcome this wicked problem at
global level. This essay has described about the identification of wicked problem and discussed
about the characteristics of wicked problem. Poverty is affected many things, such as education,
health, food, and many other things. This essay has explained about the CVF for poverty, which
describes about the different phages of CVF and critically analyze it.
Finally, it is concluded that leadership is highly required to overcome the poverty from
whole world through different efforts.

Wicked Problem 10
References
Cherry, K. (2018). Leadership Styles and Frameworks You Should Know. Retrieved January 13,
2019, from https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312
Guy Peters , B. (2017). What is so wicked about wicked problems? A conceptual analysis and a
research program. Policy and Society.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2017.1361633
Hoch, J., Bommer, W. H., & Dulebohn, J. H. (2016). Do Ethical, Authentic, and Servant
Leadership Explain Variance Above and Beyond Transformational Leadership? A Meta-
Analysis. Journal of Management, 1-29.
Kolko , J. (2012, March 6). Wicked Problems: Problems Worth Solving. Retrieved from ssir.org:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/wicked_problems_problems_worth_solving
Ana , d., & Coughlan , P. (2018, October 18). Wicked problems and how to solve them.
Retrieved from theconversation.com: http://theconversation.com/wicked-problems-and-
how-to-solve-them-100047
APSC. (2019). Tackling wicked problems : A public policy perspective. Retrieved from
apsc.gov.au: https://www.apsc.gov.au/tackling-wicked-problems-public-policy-
perspective
Bolden, R. (2016). Leadership, management and organisational development. . In Gower
handbook of leadership and management development, 1(1), 143-158.
Camillus, J. (2008). Strategy as a wicked problem. Harvard business review, 86(4), 98.
Clapp-Smith, R., Vogelgesang, G., & Avey, J. (2009). Authentic leadership and positive
psychological capital: The mediating role of trust at the group level of analysis. Journal
of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 15(3), 227-240.
Day, D., Fleenor, J., Atwater, L., Sturm, R., & McKee, R. (2014). Advances in leader and
leadership development: A review of 25 years of research and theory. The Leadership
Quarterly, 63-82.

Wicked Problem 11
Gilley, A., Dixon, P., & Gilley, J. (2008). Characteristics of leadership effectiveness:
Implementing change and driving innovation in organizations. Human Resource
Development Quarterly, 19(2), 153-169.
Head, B. (2008). Wicked problems in public policy. Public policy, 3(2), 101.
Kelloway, E., Weigand, H., McKee, M., & Das, H. (2013). Positive leadership and employee
well-being. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(1), 107-117.
leadacademy.nyc. (2018). THE SCIENCE OF OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING. Retrieved from
www.leadacademy.nyc: http://www.leadacademy.nyc/positive-organizations
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.
worldhunger.org. (2018). 2018 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. Retrieved from
worldhunger.org: https://www.worldhunger.org/world-hunger-and-poverty-facts-and-
statistics/