What is a complex problem?
What is a complex problem and what do we need to tackle it?
Problems can be simple or complex.
Simple problems have a clear first step, a known answer, and steps you can follow to get the answer.
Complex problems do not have a single right answer.
They have many possible answers or no answer at all.
What makes complex problems really hard is that they can change over time.
They have lots of different pieces that connect in unexpected ways.
When you try to solve them, one piece changes another piece, which changes another piece.
It is hard to see all the effects of your actions.
When you do something to help, later on the problem might get worse anyway.
You have to keep adapting your ideas.
To solve complex problems, you need to be able to:
- Think about all the puzzle pieces and how they fit, even when you do not know what they all are.
- Come up with plans and change them when parts of the problem change.
- Think back on your problem solving to get better for next time.
The most important things are being flexible, watching how every change affects other things, and learning from experience.
Image: The Geneva Learning Foundation Collection © 2024
References
Buchanan, R., 1992. Wicked problems in design thinking. Design issues 5–21.Camillus, J.C., 2008. Strategy as a wicked problem. Harvard business review 86, 98.Joksimovic, S., Ifenthaler, D., Marrone, R., De Laat, M., Siemens, G., 2023. Opportunities of artificial intelligence for supporting complex problem-solving: Findings from a scoping review. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence 4, 100138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100138Rittel, H.W., Webber, M.M., 1973. Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy sciences 4, 155–169.#complexLearning #complexProblems #learningStrategy #pedagogy #wickedProblems
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