What Makes Your Problem Wicked?
Gather more research about your wicked problem. Then, follow your previously developed problemstatement with an explanation of why your problem is wicked across the six characteristics (Activity 1) you learned during the first week of this course.
You might begin each explanation with, "It is difficult to precisely define this problem because...", "It is difficult to identify one solution that would work for everyone in all places because...", "This problem is unique because...".
Use your research about your problem to justify why your problem is wicked and cite these sources in-text to support, providing a full reference in APA format at the end of the paper.
How to submit: Go back to your Word.doc with problem statement and references and begin to flesh out. When complete, print, staple and bring to class or submit online on D2L
NOTE: If you find that you are having a hard time justifying why your problem is wicked, this may be associated with a lack of research.
You will need to gather more sources specifically to help you justify why the issue is wicked. You may also find it helpful to refer back to the power point of the wicked problem presentation from Week 1 available on Brightspace.
WRITING CENTER VISIT REQUIRED: While completing this project, students are required to visit one of several Writing Centers on campus.
This visit may take place while completing Activity 3 or when the final draft of this project is being compiled. The focus of this meeting, at minimum, should be on APA formatting and supporting arguments with in-text citations, though the student may request additional support.
The student is responsible for ensuring the Writing Center sends a report to your professor to document your visit.
See the guiding questionsbelow to help you justify and discusswhy your problem is wicked. Use the subtitles below to organize your paper.
Characteristic 1: Variable Problem Definitions
Why is it difficult for everyone to agree on a precise definition of the problem? How is this problem multi-faceted, so it may be seen differently from various perspectives? Who are the different stakeholders (that come from different places, have different norms/cultures, governance regimes, etc.) involved in this problem, and how might they define the problem differently?
Characteristic 2: Variable Solutions
What are the various solutions that have been proposed to the wicked problem? Why can't everyone agree on just one of them? Why might these different solutions have to be adapted to specific situations to be effective? Explain implications of these different solutions. What could happen when they are each implemented?
Characteristic 3: Solutions Have No End Point
Why can't we easily see an end to this problem? How might the solutions that you just discussed above result in other unintended consequences or cascading effects? Why must these solutions be continually adapted to be effective?
Characteristic 4:Solutions Pose Irreversible Effects
How might implementing some of these solutions cause irreversible changes in the system that later may become problematic? Why is it difficult to verify the effectiveness of the various solutions you discussed above?
Characteristic 5: Solutions Require Unique Approaches
How might some solutions work in one place and not the other? Explain. Why is it difficult for us to implement just one solution that would work for everyone, everywhere, in all cases? How is this problem unique?
Characteristic 6: Urgent
What will happen if we fail to act? How might inaction result in fatal consequences to humansand/or environmental systems? Why must we move on with some solution before we may fully understand the problem?