{"id":612,"date":"2024-04-01T23:07:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T21:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpethzprd.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/?page_id=612"},"modified":"2024-04-05T18:06:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T16:06:53","slug":"wicked-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/glossary\/wicked-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Wicked Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wicked problems are the opposite of <em>good problems<\/em>. For good problems, the question, the allowed paths for solving the problem, as well as the goal to be reached are clearly defined. Examples of good problems are playing a game of chess or solving a mathematical equation. For wicked problems, the opposite is the case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A definite problem definition is impossible and understanding the problem is concomitant with addressing it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each problem is unique, and they cannot be grouped into categories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is impossible to ever collect all the necessary information to address the problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are not susceptible to exhaustive analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are no correct or wrong solutions, only good or bad ones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The term <em>wicked problem<\/em> was coined by Rittel and Webber<span data-has-children=\"true\" id=\"8f54eb12-dc22-4235-8f51-f1d06c9a0fb8\" data-items=\"[&quot;2123778061&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span>. The term has been widely used since\u00d4\u00c7\u00f6including outside spatial planning. But it has also been controversially discussed, for example because of its negative connotation<span id=\"8de5a5ad-87ee-4641-be2a-563e9d66c3df\" data-items=\"[&quot;251250801&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\" data-has-children=\"true\"><sup>2<\/sup><\/span>. Consequently, other terms with similar meanings have been introduced to describe complex problems in spatial planning, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Ill-defined problems<\/em><span id=\"626790d8-2e74-456f-9722-2e78c648fd01\" data-items=\"[&quot;3143547182&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\" data-has-children=\"true\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Komplexe Schwerpunktaufgabe<\/em><span id=\"9dbad855-35ec-444b-9a76-0ef3ca192c68\" data-items=\"[&quot;1856256895&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\" data-has-children=\"true\"><sup>4<\/sup><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Komplexe Problemsituation<\/em><span id=\"1590c5f9-b336-4bbe-94de-d00378bb125a\" data-items=\"[&quot;4250982617&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\" data-has-children=\"true\"><sup>5<\/sup><\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The above definition is based on these four sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An example for such complex problems is the development of a concept for the future development of a city, for example, Cologne in Germany:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a94f2724b93d&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a94f2724b93d\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"542\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-1024x542.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-1024x542.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-1536x813.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-2048x1084.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/files\/2024\/04\/2023-03-06-Wicked-Problem-Example-Inner-City-of-Cologne-676x358.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visualisation of the &#8220;komplexe Problemsituation&#8221; (wicked problem) of the process to develop a <em>Masterplan<\/em> for the inner city of Cologne<span data-has-children=\"true\" id=\"e1b3435d-6263-44e9-918b-bc11af69fd73\" data-items=\"[&quot;1544121557&quot;]\" class=\"abt-citation\"><sup>6<\/sup><\/span> \u2013 described here through the numerous unresolved conflicts and challenges that stakeholders see in this area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<section aria-label=\"Bibliography\" class=\"wp-block-abt-bibliography abt-bibliography\" role=\"region\"><details><summary><h3 class=\"abt-bibliography__heading\">References<\/h3><\/summary><ol class=\"abt-bibliography__body\" data-entryspacing=\"1\" data-maxoffset=\"2\" data-linespacing=\"1\" data-second-field-align=\"flush\"><li id=\"2123778061\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">1.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">Rittel HWJ, Webber MM. Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning. <i>Policy Sciences<\/i>. 1973;4(2):155-169. Accessed August 3, 2023. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/4531523\">https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/4531523<\/a><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><li id=\"251250801\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">2.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">L\u00f6nngren J, van Poeck K. Wicked problems: a mapping review of the literature. <i>International Journal of Sustainable Development &amp; World Ecology<\/i>. 2021;28(6):481-502. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13504509.2020.1859415\">10.1080\/13504509.2020.1859415<\/a><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><li id=\"3143547182\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">3.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">Cross N. Designerly ways of knowing. <i>Design Studies<\/i>. 1982;3(4):221-227. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0142-694X(82)90040-0\">10.1016\/0142-694X(82)90040-0<\/a><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><li id=\"1856256895\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">4.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">Borchard K, Akademie f\u00fcr Raumforschung und Landesplanung. <i>Grundriss der Raumordnung und Raumentwicklung<\/i>. Verl. der ARL; 2011:877.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><li id=\"4250982617\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">5.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">Nollert M. <i>Raumplanerisches Entwerfen<\/i>. ETH Zurich; 2013. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.research-collection.ethz.ch\/handle\/20.500.11850\/71036\">https:\/\/www.research-collection.ethz.ch\/handle\/20.500.11850\/71036<\/a><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><li id=\"1544121557\">  <div class=\"csl-entry\">\n    <div class=\"csl-left-margin\">6.<\/div><div class=\"csl-right-inline\">AS&amp;P. <i>St\u00e4dtebaulicher Masterplan Innenstadt K\u00f6ln<\/i>.; 2008.<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/li><\/ol><\/details><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wicked problems are the opposite of good problems. For good problems, the question, the allowed paths for solving the problem, as well as the goal to be reached are clearly defined. Examples of good problems are playing a game of chess or solving a mathematical equation. For wicked problems, the opposite is the case: The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44024,"featured_media":0,"parent":306,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-nosidebar.php","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-612","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44024"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=612"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":711,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/612\/revisions\/711"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethz.ch\/cartistic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}