Reda SadkiWhat is the difference between a wicked problem and a grand challenge?
The management concepts of wicked problems and grand challenges are closely related but have some key distinctions:
Similarities
Both wicked problems and grand challenges refer to complex, systemic issues that are difficult to solve and have far-reaching societal impacts. They share several characteristics:
- Complexity and interconnectedness with other problems
- No clear or definitive solutions
- Require collaborative efforts from diverse stakeholders
- Often global or multi-regional in scope
- Involve uncertainty and changing requirements
Distinctions
While closely related, there are some nuanced differences:
Scope and framing
- Wicked problems tend to be framed more negatively as intractable issues
- Grand challenges are often framed more positively as ambitious goals to be tackled
Solution approach
- Wicked problems are seen as having no definitive solution, only better or worse approaches
- Grand challenges imply the possibility of significant progress or breakthroughs, even if not fully “solved”
Origin and usage
- Wicked problems originated in social planning literature in the 1960s-70s
- Grand challenges gained prominence more recently, especially in management literature since the 2010s
Relationship
Many scholars view grand challenges as a subset or reframing of wicked problems. Grand challenges can be seen as large-scale wicked problems that have been formulated into more actionable goals. The grand challenges framing aims to mobilize collaborative efforts to make progress on wicked problems, even if they cannot be fully solved.
Both concepts highlight the need for:
- Interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches
- Adaptive and flexible strategies
- Consideration of diverse stakeholder perspectives
- Acceptance of uncertainty and continuous learning
Understanding both wicked problems and grand challenges can help managers and policymakers develop more effective approaches to complex societal issues. The grand challenges framing, in particular, may help motivate action and innovation in addressing wicked problems that might otherwise seem insurmountable.
References
Daar, A.S. et al. (2018) ‘Grand challenges in humanitarian aid’, Nature, 559(7713), pp. 169–173. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-05642-8.
Gariel, C. and Bartel-Radic, A. (2024) ‘Tidying Up the Concept of Grand Challenges: A Bibliometric Analysis’, M@n@gement, 27(S1), pp. 58–79. Available at: https://doi.org/10.37725/mgmt.2024.8884.
Rittel, H.W. and Webber, M.M. (1973) ‘Dilemmas in a general theory of planning’, Policy sciences, 4(2), pp. 155–169. Available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/01v4t1c9.
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What is a wicked problem?
In 1973, Horst W.J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber, two Berkeley professors, published an article in Policy Sciences introducing the notion of “wicked” social problems. The article, “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning,” named 10 properties that distinguished wicked problems from hard but ordinary problems. There is no definitive formulation of a wicked problem. It’s not possible to write a well-defined statement of the problem, as can be done with an ordinary problem. Wicked problems have no stopping rule. You can tell when you’ve reached a solution with an ordinary problem. With a wicked problem, the search for solutions never stops. Solutions to wicked problems are not true or false, but good or bad. Ordinary problems have solutions that can be objectively evaluated as right or wrong. Choosing a solution to a wicked problem is largely a matter of judgment. There is no immediate and no ultimate test of ... Read More