What Makes Something a Wicked Problem?

Key takeaways

Wicked problems are complex, evolving issues with no obvious solutions, such as environmental issues, poverty, and educational inequality.

• The term “wicked problem” was first documented in 1967 and formally defined in a 1973 co-publication by Rittel and Webber [1].

• Solutions to wicked problems can have unintended consequences, potentially improving one issue while worsening another.

• You can explore how abstract thinking skills can help you to better understand wicked problems.

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History of wicked problems

While wicked problems have always existed, they didn’t have this name until the late 1960s. Horst Rittel first identified so-called wicked problems in a 1967 seminar at the University of California at Berkeley. West Churchman documented the phrase in a follow-up editorial in Management Science, suggesting Rittel used the adjective “wicked” to “describe the quality of the problems, implying they have a mischievous and even evil quality, where proposed ‘solutions’ often turn out to be worse than the symptoms”[1]. Still, researchers credit the 1973 co-publication by Rittel and Melvin Webber as the seminal work on the concept.

Key properties that define wicked problems

Look at quintessential wicked problems such as terrorism, global hunger, or poverty. Complex and ongoing, these problems have many shared characteristics that qualify them as “wicked.”

Wicked problems have no stopping point.

No matter how hard it is, you can stop an ordinary problem in a set period. However, wicked problems lack the internal logic that gives those working on the issue a stopping point.

Wicked problems lack definition.

A wicked problem has no one formulation. That’s because wicked problems involve numerous interconnected elements. This interconnection makes them challenging to understand. Additionally, the actual situation can lack clarity, leaving many potential solutions open.

Wicked problems have no right or wrong solution.

Uncertainty rules wicked problems. They have multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests and values, which leaves them open to subjectivity, making it difficult to achieve a consensus. At the same time, since wicked problems aren’t static, they often require a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach.

You can’t test solutions to wicked problems.

Since you can’t declare a wicked problem “solved,” you can’t test the solution. Solution attempts are often smaller-scale, aimed at a small win rather than tackling the entire problem. Plus, addressing one wicked problem could impact another one. For example, creating solutions for homelessness could influence unemployment rates or community health.

The problem is unique.

With wicked problems, you can’t apply any standard approach or use the answer from one problem to another. For example, how you solve a water quality problem in Michigan may differ entirely from how you would solve it in Texas.

Wicked problems have unknown consequences.

Wicked problems are part of complex systems and are often interconnected with several components. They also tend to evolve persistently. Finding a definitive endpoint or solution proves difficult with new information constantly emerging and circumstances changing.

At the same time, those addressing wicked problems must consider the impacts of their immediate and future solutions. Unlike a math equation, getting the answer wrong with a wicked problem can have a real and lasting impact on the people affected by the policymaker, planner, or other group’s actions.

Wicked problems prove symptomatic of other problems.

How people describe these indefinable and unique problems depends on their perspective. Yet the interconnection to other wicked problems makes each one both a symptom and a problem—for instance, crime and poverty. You can’t tackle one without addressing the other. However, if you focus on solving crime, you’ll have different ideas on possible solutions than if you focus on poverty.

Read more: How to Develop Your Problem-Solving Skills

Where do you find wicked problems?

You can find wicked problem examples in many environments, including educational, economic, health care, environmental, and urban planning challenges. Often, these social or cultural problems overlap with one another. You can begin to understand what makes a problem “wicked” by exploring the following examples.

What is an example of a wicked problem?

A classic example of a “wicked” problem is climate change. It involves social, economic, and environmental factors that are intricate and interdependent, making simple solutions evasive. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that the effects of climate change on infrastructure, ecosystems, and human health are unpredictable [2]. Meanwhile, NASA emphasizes its irreversible effects, which vary by region and worsen over time, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather [3]. Instead of using one-size-fits-all solutions, these problems call for flexible, cooperative approaches, which are the hallmarks of a wicked problem. 

Other examples of wicked problems include food insecurity, cybersecurity, and the criminal justice system. 

Education

Wicked problems persistently challenge teachers and leaders in education. Two examples of wicked problems in an educational setting include how to:

• Improve educational outcomes for all learners while considering diverse learning needs and backgrounds.

• Address the gap in access to quality education across socioeconomic and demographic groups.

Economics

Many minds have come together to try to solve economic issues. Examples include how to:

• Reduce income and wealth disparities within and between countries.

• Foster inclusive economic growth while ensuring fair opportunities and social mobility.

• Meet human desire for different and new products while managing the environmental impact of manufacturing and supply chain logistics.

Health care

You can easily find examples of wicked problems in health care. They include the challenges such as how to:

• Provide care for an aging population that experiences financial challenges alongside health issues.

• Embrace gene editing capabilities without opening the door to people choosing to create a “perfect” race.

Environment

A collaborative approach is helping to address climate change. Still, wicked problems remain and include how to:

• Mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while balancing economic growth and energy demands.

• Control environmental degradation, such as damage to soil, while balancing agricultural needs.

Urban planning

Communities are always looking to resolve wicked urban planning problems. A few examples include how to:

• Promote economic development without contributing to rural shrinkage and worsening of poverty in rural areas.

• Balance transportation infrastructure needs with minimizing traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

Why are wicked problems worth solving?

Wicked problems offer an opportunity to look at complex situations and challenges through a different lens and develop innovative solutions to promote positive change within communities. Wicked problems often bring people together as they try to find a solution. You may create an interdisciplinary team that will innovate in fresh ways. If nothing else, they may expand their knowledge and gain new insights.

Like anything else involving humans, you may never find a definitive answer. Yet, solving global issues such as a lack of universal access to clean water or poverty can bring about positive change.

The alternative is feeling overwhelmed and throwing our hands up in frustration. Taking small steps to fix wicked problems today may help ensure the well-being of future generations.

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