The term "Wicked problem" is a phrase used to describe a problem that is difficult to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize. Moreover, because of complex interdependencies, the effort to solve one aspect of a wicked problem may reveal or create other problems.
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Now, let's begin Lesson 1...
To finish this lesson, you must complete the activities listed below. You may find it useful to print this page out first so that you can follow along with the directions.
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1 | Read the lesson Overview and Checklist. | You are in the Lesson 1 online content now. The Overview page is previous to this page, and you are on the Checklist page right now. |
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There are three different styles of reading that are referred to in the lessons:
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3 | View the Lesson Introduction. | You are in the Lesson 1 online content now. Click on the "Next Page" link to access the Lecture/Discussion. |
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Geospatial Think-Piece (Template) [2] |
Using Word (or a word processing program compatible with Microsoft® Word): identify and briefly discuss (<200 words) a "wicked problem" that has some geospatial aspect. Name your file Lsn1_YourName.doc, Please turn-in your document the Lesson 1 Dropbox in ANGEL. What is a “Think Piece”? A “think piece” is a form of writing that is less polished than a formal paper or presentation but more fully developed than an entry in a personal journal. Think pieces are written to discover what an individual is thinking about a particular topic. Within this course, the writing of think pieces is a way of helping learners connect with the subject matter. Within this context, think pieces reduce the grading risk associated with an “all or nothing” term paper and allow the instructor to communicate with learners throughout the semester, to see the evolution of thinking, and to suggest resources that can further the learners’ understanding. What does a Think Piece look like? The starting point for a think piece for this course lie in the author’s immediate past experience. Because think pieces are as much a reflection of one’s ideas, there is no standard or uniform format for a think piece. In other words, each of us is writing from personal experience. We are not claiming to be objective not are we offering prescriptive, how-to, formulas or guidelines. |
5 | Read lesson Summary. | You are in the Lesson 1 online content now. |
Our geospatial infrastructure is well past the initial development for the most part. The easy problems have been addressed. Designing systems to meet our current problems is often more difficult because there is typically no consensus on what the problems are, let alone how to resolve them. In their landmark article, "Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning" (Policy Sciences, Vol. 4, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company Inc., Amsterdam, 1973), Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber dubbed these "Wicked Problems."
According to Rittel and Webber, wicked problems have 10 characteristics:
Wicked projects are rife with conflict in stakeholder requirements and changes in management constraints.What kinds of problems are wicked? Locating a new freeway or homeless shelter are examples. In short, attempting to state the problem is a major problem in itself.