University: Wicked Problems & System Thinking Assignment, Analysis

This essay delves into the concept of 'wicked problems,' particularly focusing on climate change as a prime example. It explores how traditional problem-solving approaches fall short in addressing these complex, interconnected issues. The essay introduces system thinking as a crucial framework for analyzing and tackling wicked problems, emphasizing the importance of understanding inter-relationships, diverse perspectives, and defining boundaries. It examines the inter-relationships between human activities and environmental impacts, highlighting the need for a holistic approach. The essay also discusses the significance of empathy in understanding different perspectives on climate change and the challenges posed by varying viewpoints and the lack of a unified global response. Furthermore, it underscores the need for system thinking to address the multifaceted nature of environmental problems, advocating for a shift towards a more integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure the sustainability of the planet. The essay concludes by reiterating the urgency of applying system thinking to mitigate the escalating climate change problem.

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 0
Title: Wicked Problems & System Thinking
Assignment Name:
Student Name:
Course Name and Number:
Professor:
Date:

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Wicked Problems & System Thinking............................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 2
Introduction
Human activities have brought the world on the edge of depletion due to the numerous
activities which are ruining the environment with a rapid speed. The aim of this assignment is to
understand the sustainable problem which has now been transformed into a wicked problem.
This wicked problem is due to an inter-relationship between elements of the environment and the
elements of human activities that are ruining the environment. There is a need for a system
thinking approach and which is essential for handling the issue of wicked problems. The wicked
problems are continuous in nature, there is no way to pause them or stop them.
Wicked Problems & System Thinking
According to a theorist Horst Rittel, wicked problems are problems related to the social
and also cultural problems which are impossible to solve due to many prominent reasons. These
reasons may include incomplete knowledge, the involvement of too many opinions, the
economic burden and the interconnection of various problems. Some of the sustainability
problems have been recognized as wicked problems (Azapagic and Perdan, 2014). The modern
activities of humans have raised some serious concerns for the sustainability of the planet. Some
issues like deforestation, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, scarcity of water, depletion of
resources, climate change and many other have now also been identified as wicked problems.
Climate change is a sustainable problem which is now being identified as a wicked problem
which requires immediate response and intervention from various parts of the world. This
sustainable problem which is now a wicked problem has to be analyzed with a systematic
framework that has three main core concepts (Barkemeyer et al., 2015). They are inter-
relationships, perspectives and boundaries. This systematic framework will also help in
providing solutions to control this problem.

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 3
The climate change problem is now majorly described as one of the wicked problems.
The framework first step is inter-relationships. The problem of climate change is due to a number
of inter-relationships between various environmental activities that are conducted by human
being. This inter-relationship of hazardous activities by the human on the environment has
created a vicious circle which is harming the environment and have turned a sustainable problem
into a wicked problem (Davison, Patel and Greyling, 2015). These ill-structured issues of the
humans display an inter-relationship that is of several social and environmental factors. The next
step of this framework is perspectives. Understanding a situation through the eyes of another
person is the key of this concept. Perspectives can only be examined through empathy. The
climate change problem requires to build new insights to understand the seriousness of the
situation and to tackle it logically (J. Hämäläinen, 2015). But this is the most difficult part of
climate change. The less interest that has been displayed by the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change on a climate policy, shows the perspective of the world who is
not bothered by such a humongous wicked problem. Though the interest by the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change is not surprising, but the capabilities of any policy
on climate change are very limited even at their best (Endl, 2017). The third part of this
framework is boundaries. According to this concept, there are responses of people that finalize
what’s in and what’s out. The main issue with the climate change problem is also the reactions
which are from different countries, popular people and communities. There is a disconnection
between the huge scientific communities, stakeholders, social activists, environmental activist,
the population and the media too. This shows a disjointment which is also due to the lack of
knowledge about the problems of climate change and the growing wicked problem which is
continuous in nature (Meckenstock, Barbosa-Póvoa and Carvalho, 2015). And the few interested

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 4
people and communities have suggested some solutions, but there are mixed motives which are
difficult to understand. There is an imbalance between the various approaches.
All these three concepts of a systematic frameworks also suggests and encourages a need
for a system thinking. System thinking is an approach which looks at a problem as a whole
system rather than the various elements of problems. The concepts inter-relationships,
perspectives and boundaries hints for a system thinking approach. The various elements of nature
are interrelated like water, air, plants, animals and movement (Waddock, 2013). This is being
effected by the human activities towards the environment. This inter-relationship encourages a
system thinking approach to deal with this matter as an entire system rather than dealing with
different elements differently. The climate change problem is increasing with each year. Each
year the summers are getting warmer from the previous year and also the winters are getting
chillier. There is an urgent need for the problem of climate change to be addressed. The climate
change has a massive impact on the different factors which are global, national, organizational
and industrial. The systematic framework of inter-relationships, perspectives and boundaries thus
completely suggest and identifies a requirement for a system thinking approach to tackle this
issue as a whole. The systems thinking approach is a structural functioning unit which helps in
bringing a huge change in the wicked problems which may come slowly and gradually but they
have high chances of working (Zijp et al., 2016).
Conclusion
The sustainability problem climate change has been transformed into a wicked problem
due to the ignorance to the situation from different countries, communities, organization and the
population. The framework helped in knowing and understanding the problem in a better way
and also the emergency which is required towards it. The climate change problem is increasing

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 5
with a rapid rate and like all the complex problems there is no stop to them, they will keep
incrementing. The climate change will further affect the future and the current attitude of people
towards it hints at even more severe issues. The need for a system thinking by the framework is a
plan which should be immediately executed due to the various the alarming signs. Our
environment is interrelated with each and every thing on this planet. Thus the conservation and
the preservation is vital for the generation of today and tomorrow.

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 6
References
Azapagic, A. and Perdan, S. (2014). Sustainable chemical engineering: Dealing with “wicked”
sustainability problems. AIChE Journal, 60(12), pp.3998-4007.
Barkemeyer, R., Stringer, L., Hollins, J. and Josephi, F. (2015). Corporate reporting on solutions
to wicked problems: Sustainable land management in the mining sector. Environmental Science
& Policy, 48, pp.196-209.
Davison, A., Patel, Z. and Greyling, S. (2015). Tackling wicked problems and tricky transitions:
change and continuity in Cape Town's environmental policy landscape. Local Environment,
21(9), pp.1063-1081.
Endl, A. (2017). Addressing “Wicked Problems” through Governance for Sustainable
Development—A Comparative Analysis of National Mineral Policy Approaches in the European
Union. Sustainability, 9(10), p.1830.
J. Hämäläinen, T. (2015). Governance Solutions for Wicked Problems: Metropolitan Innovation
Ecosystems as Frontrunners to Sustainable Well-Being. Technology Innovation Management
Review, 5(10), pp.31-41.
Meckenstock, J., Barbosa-Póvoa, A. and Carvalho, A. (2015). The Wicked Character of
Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Evidence from Sustainability Reports. Business
Strategy and the Environment, 25(7), pp.449-477.
Waddock, S. (2013). The Wicked Problems of Global Sustainability Need Wicked (Good)
Leaders and Wicked (Good) Collaborative Solutions. Journal of Management for Global
Sustainability, 1(1), pp.91-111.

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 7
Zijp, M., Posthuma, L., Wintersen, A., Devilee, J. and Swartjes, F. (2016). Definition and use of
Solution-focused Sustainability Assessment: A novel approach to generate, explore and decide
on sustainable solutions for wicked problems. Environment International, 91, pp.319-331.

Wicked Problems & System Thinking 8