JiscMail Logo
Email discussion lists for the UK Education and Research communities

Help for PHD-DESIGN Archives


PHD-DESIGN Archives

PHD-DESIGN Archives


PHD-DESIGN@JISCMAIL.AC.UK


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

PHD-DESIGN Home

PHD-DESIGN Home

PHD-DESIGN  March 2014

PHD-DESIGN March 2014

Options

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password

Subject:

Re: Wicked Problems

From:

Ken Friedman <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:04:35 +0000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (101 lines)

Dear Keith, Jonas, and David,

Keith, the way you've phrased this question poses neither a scientific problem nor a wicked problem. You ask, "What then about the question of whether 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning, is an example of a scientific problem and hence open to a definite solution or an example of a wicked problem and hence not open to a definitive solution?"

The question is so confusing in its grammatical structure that there is no proper way to answer it. It is impossible to get a clear question out of this. This question should probably be stated in two or three clear sentences, each with a subject, a verb, and an object. Once you specify the question that you intend to ask, it may be possible to answer it.

BUT whichever way I parse the question, it is not a scientific question. Neither does it pose a wicked problem. The word "tomorrow" is a time marker. When you use a time marker in planning, you simply state that something should happen. That is a declaration or, in some cases, a normative statement. While scientific questions may have time markers in them, "the question of 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning" is not such a time market. It is a general, abstract question. So "the question of 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning" is not a scientific question.

The fact that "the question of 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning" is not a scientific question does not make it a wicked problem. The reason this question is not open to solution is that it is not a question. This is like asking "how long is a piece of string?" This is not a precise, definite question open to solution — but it is not a wicked problem either. It's a word game or a conceptual puzzle of some kind, and so is "the question of 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning."

Once again, Rittel and Webber (1973: 161-166) define the attributes of a wicked problem clearly:

“1) There is no definitive formulation of a wicked problem. 2) Wicked problems have no stopping rule. 3) Solutions to wicked problems are not true-or-false, but good-or-bad. 4) There is no immediate and no ultimate test of a solution to a wicked problem. 5) Every solution to a wicked problem is a 'one-shot operation'; because there is no opportunity to learn by trial-and-error, every attempt counts significantly. 6) Wicked problems do not have an enumerable (or an exhaustively describable) set of potential solutions, nor is there a well-described set of permissible operations that may be incorporated into the plan. 7) Every wicked problem is essentially unique. 8) Every wicked problem can be considered to be a symptom of another problem. 9) The existence of a discrepancy representing a wicked problem can be explained in numerous ways. The choice of explanation determines the nature of the problem’s resolution. 10) The planner has no right to be wrong.”

Just as we stipulate problems in mathematics and problems in law, so the kind of problem that a "wicked problem" is, is defined by stipulation. If a problem has these attributes, it is a wicked problem. If it does not, it is not a wicked problem. There are many kinds of problems that admit no definite solution without being wicked problems. A wicked problem meets ten criteria.

It is possible that a deeper or more careful discussion would suggest that one or two criteria can be dismissed without changing the fact that a problem remains essentially wicked, but that kind of inquiry requires far more time and care than I can give it here.

Your question -- "the question of 'tomorrow' as it might appear as part of planning" -- meets none of the criteria that define a wicked problem. It has no solution because it is meaningless as stated here.

Wolfgang, you write that we are "probably talking about the difference between complicatedness and complexity."

In my view, this is not so. While it is in theory possible to describe every element of a complicated system, there are major differences between complex adaptive systems and wicked problems. Wicked problems are not wicked because they involve complex adaptive systems. Complex adaptive systems may be difficult to understand, and they offer serious theoretical problems, but complexity is a property of systems. The "wicked aspect of a "wicked problem" involve the ways in which human beings identify, select, interpret, attempt to solve, or act upon problems.

There are some very simple systems that fulfil all the criteria that Rittel and Webber attribute to wicked problems. Such problems are neither complex nor complicated.

Consider the case of a group of three people working late in an office. They must order a meal delivered from one restaurant and one restaurant only. One wants to eat Italian food, one wants to eat Indian food, and one wants to eat Irish food. All must agree if they are to place the order. If each person insists on his or her original preference, this is a wicked problem. Despite the trivial nature of the problem and the relatively low stakes, the problem may remain wicked and unresolvable. Equally, the problem may be resolved swiftly in any number of ways.

In responding to Keith, I stated that he is not asking about wicked problems, but posing language games to probe the nature of his own curiosity on these issues. He is not describing complicated systems or complex systems.

But the attributes of a wicked problem do not define either complicated systems or complex systems. They define ten attributes, qualities, or qualities that make a problem a "wicked problem" as Rittel and Webber define it.

David, you are taking issue with "calling something (anything) a *problem*." I'll have to wait to read your blog. Using the word problem or the concept of a problem seems to me quite straightforward. It is a perfectly good English word with different and relatively clear meanings. What it is to be a problem or to solve one is not always simple — this raises profound questions in the philosophy of science. I am perfectly happy to agree that you don't like the word or the concept of a problem. It doesn't bother me.

Feynman (1993), Hadamard (1996), Hersh (1998), and Polya (1990) were all happy to talk about problems and the nature of what it is to be a problem. So am I.

Nevertheless, you blogs are always entertaining, and I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Warm wishes,

Ken

Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS | University Distinguished Professor | Swinburne University of Technology | Melbourne, Australia | University email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | Private email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | Mobile +61 404 830 462 | Academia Page http://swinburne.academia.edu/KenFriedman

Guest Professor | College of Design and Innovation | Tongji University | Shanghai, China ||| Adjunct Professor | School of Creative Arts | James Cook University | Townsville, Australia

--

Reference

Feynman, Richard P. 1993. What do you care what other people think? London: HarperCollins.

Hadamard, Jacques. 1996 [1945]. The Mathematician’s Mind. The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field. With a new preface by P. N. Johnson-Laird. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Hersh, Reuben. 1998. What is Mathematics, Really? London: Vintage.

Polya, G. 1990. How to Solve It. A New Aspect of Mathematical Method. London: Penguin Books.

Rittel, Horst W J, and Melvin M. Webber. 1973. Policy Sciences, Vol. 4, (1973), 155-169.

--

Keith Russell wrote:

--snip--

Yes, I agree. I was anticipating that my example of ocean currents would NOT be seen as a wicked problem. I was trying to illustrate exactly the differences you raise.

What then about the question of whether "tomorrow" as it might appear as part of planning, is an example of a scientific problem and hence open to a definite solution or an example of a wicked problem and hence not open to a definitive solution?

--snip--

--

Wolfgang Jonas wrote:

--snip--

you are probably talking about the difference between complicatedness and complexity.

--snip--

--

David Sless wrote:

--snip--

The issue is calling something (anything) a *problem*

--snip--




-----------------------------------------------------------------
PhD-Design mailing list  <[log in to unmask]>
Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design
Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

JiscMail Tools


RSS Feeds and Sharing


Advanced Options


Archives

April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998


JiscMail is a Jisc service.

View our service policies at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ and Jisc's privacy policy at https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/privacy-notice

For help and support help@jisc.ac.uk

Secured by F-Secure Anti-Virus CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager