Exploring Wicked Problems: What They Are and Why They Are Important

by Joseph Bentley, Michael Toth

Former Secretary of State George Shultz once drew a distinction between "problems you can solve and problems you can only work at."

These two types of problems have names: They are tame or wicked.

Many people believe that their problems are "wicked," yet few seem to understand what should be done with them. Wicked problems are messy, confusing, unstable, ill-structured, and ambiguous.

This book explores the timely issue of wicked problems - what they are and why they are important. The authors open the door to a greater understanding of wicked problems and an appreciation for their complexity, sharing insights and recommendations on how to tackle them to make positive and productive changes in relationships, at home, and at work.

Making one's way successfully through the mess of obstacles and impediments that wicked problems present puts maximum pressure on our capabilities and stretches our tolerance for confusion, conflict, controversy, and chaos.

Get guidance on grappling with the wicked problems in your life by increasing your knowledge about what they are and why they are so important to keep working at - even if they can't be completely resolved.

252 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2020

Reviews

[John Weiler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Primarily a collection of quotations of other sources, the book includes precious little original thought and even less tying of the quotes into coherent themes, which could have salvaged it.

I gave the book two stars for the quotes. It took a lot of me convincing myself not to take one star away for the irrelevant prose inserted by the authors.

Worth reading the quotes once, but skip rereading those that come back up later on in the book.

[Jordan Rahm · Rating 2 out of 5]

School book!