Wicked Solutions for Wicked Problems : Misalignment in Public Policy

“Wicked problems” are often thought of as a situation that should not exist or an inescapable consequence of complex systems. This paper argues for a paradigm shift in instead understanding wicked problems as feedback from the system (i.e., the real world), resulting from a misalignment between our mental model of the system and the system itself, rather than inevitable outcomes of complex systems. Through a systems literature review (SLR) on effective policy and two surveys sampling the US population in order to understand how people are thinking about today’s biggest crises, this paper explores the prevalence of this traditional approach to problem solving. Essentially, wicked problems are the real-world system informing us that our mental model is flawed. When confronted with wicked problems involving webs of causality (as all wicked problems do), people often fail to recognize the needed solutions as a corollary web of actions, instead emphasizing linear causal relationships, or “root causes.” This problem-solving approach has significant consequences, as it overlooks the symmetry between the web of causality generating the problems and the web of solutions that would remedy them. This oversight leads to the implementation of partial solutions divorced from the dynamacy of interaction effects, which in turn leads policy and decision makers to conclude that critical parts of a web of solutions have been ineffective, and thus excluding them from future interventions. This is especially relevant for influential policy makers, planners, and decision makers. However, changing this mindset is in itself a wicked problem. The traditional approach to problems and systems is ineffective, necessitating a more systemic approach to policy. Our statistically significant findings confirm the prevalence of the traditional approach, prompting the recommendation for a more holistic education in critical analysis and systems thinking to address the web of causes that produce “wicked problems.” This is particularly critical for individuals being trained for careers in policy and planning.