PPMP 20014: Discussion Forum 1 - Climate Change as a Wicked Problem

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Central Queensland University, Australia
Term –
PPMP 20014
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Assessment: Discussion Forum Number 1
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Wicked problems are those societal problems that are devoid of straightforward planning
responses. These problems are characterised by many interdependencies. These problems are
socially complex. Climate Change (CC) is one of the major wicked problems. The reason for
putting CC into a complex problem because of uncertainties involved, dynamic interface,
ambiguity, and results in political changes and policymaking. This report talks about the
primary reason for considering climate change into the class of wicked problem. For this
purpose, the causes of complexities characterising the wicked nature of climate change are
discussed. In addition to this, various aspects associated with managing the highly complex
projects are discussed in brief. These include project management approaches as per the
ICCPM, stakeholders’ input, etc.
According to Davies, et.al (2011), climate change can be considered as a complex project to
deal with because of its features resembling a high-complex project's features as described by
ICCPM. The first and foremost is that it is defined by the effects, such as benefits and values
rather than the solution. The second is that it is associated with uncertainties, rapidly
changing interfaces, ambiguity, and highly-influenced by significant external changes.
Complexities are known to the project manager who deals with a complex project. They
employ a different approach and a thought process that emphasized on disciplined systems
thinking along with acute sensitivity and awareness to the underlying assumptions. The first
and foremost technique is leadership through vision, principles, and vision. Principle-based
relationship serves as the foundation and direction aid for making a decision (Pitsis, et.al,
2014). Since climate change is a bit perplexing concept, working on the project like that
requires continuous guidance. Such a complex project management training is considered as
the multi-climate survival training that requires a deep knowledge. Complex project manager
working on climate change is required to understand the worst case scenarios possible.
There are many aspects that make the project complex as outlined by Davies, et.al (2011).
These are shown in the table given below:-
Critical Aspects Description
Unhelpful Attitude Usually, the complexity takes place when
people have varying attitude, interest,
cultures, loyalties, and interactions with
each other are made to work together on a
project. It has been seen that people might

become irrational while making decisions
that might make the attitude of the team
difficult to evolve.
Reluctant behaviour towards Systemicity It has been seen that people usually talk
about a project as a whole while a project
manager considers it by breaking it down
into elements. These are also seen on the
complex projects that might often result in
an intensification of the real problems.
Own Mental Models People try to understand climate change
from their understanding and perspective.
Most commonly, these models are not
explicit rather more implicit. Due to such a
large number of mental models and
meanings given to the principle of climate
change, the problem has become complex.
Having explicit shared models throughout
the project team can be able to understand
the complexity of the project.
Over Ambitious Strategic Management There is a large number of complexity in
projects related to Climate change. The
reason being the rapid increase in pollution
and global warming and simultaneously
government efforts are reducing. Each and
every project is required to be governed and
within a particular context created by the
governance system.
It has been seen that stakeholders play a significant role in dealing with the case of Climate
change having a high level of complexities. These people are directly or indirectly associated
with the project and can lead to a significant change in the project (Head, 2008). The input of
different stakeholders is tabulated here.
Stakeholders Impacts

Researchers and Project Team These people are working and researching
on the climatic change and factors affecting
the rapid change in the climatic condition.
These people study the impacts of the
climatic conditions and control of the
project (Pitsis, et.al, 2014).
Industrialists These people are a part of the stakeholder’s
list because they are directly contributing to
the climatic change and any sanction
imposed by the government due to climate
change would affect them severely.
Government Agencies Government agencies are responsible to
carry out the project of climatic change in
order to safeguard the environment and
citizens from any ill-effect.
Common People These people are the main stakeholders of
climatic change taking place globally.
The following project concerning the wicked problem like climatic change is complex as well
as tough to handle. Like every other project, it has many aspects, such as risk management,
issue determination, resource planning, time tracking, cost management, and budgeting
(Pitsis, et.al, 2014). In addition to this, it was also determined that the scientific inquiry
process and policy implications are a complex project and are difficult to carry out.
From the first two weeks, I learned about two of the main project management approaches,
namely simplistic project management and over-ambitious strategic management approach.
The former method is useful in understanding the project techniques and tools. In the context
of the complex projects, it can be used to identify the project risks and potential failure
(Head, 2008). Talking about the over-ambitious strategic management approach, it is used to
establish a governance system and implementing and adding dimensions to the systemic.
Talking about my personal learning from the last two weeks lecture, I came to know about
the complex projects and how project management approaches can be used to carry them out.

I learned about the role of stakeholder, characteristics of a complex project, and some general
aspects of project management. Overall, it was learning experience for me and I hope to gain
more from the upcoming weeks’ lectures.

References
 Cooke-Davies, Crawford, Cooke-Davies, Terry, & Crawford, Lynn. (2011). Aspects
of complexity: Managing projects in a complex world.
 Head, B. W. (2008). Wicked problems in public policy. Public policy, 3(2), 101.
 Pitsis, T. S., Sankaran, S., Gudergan, S., & Clegg, S. R. (2014). Governing projects
under complexity: theory and practice in project management. International Journal
of Project Management, 32(8), 1285-1290.