From Free Birds to Jail Birds: Wicked Problems
I love watching birds, especially now that my kids bought me one of those fancy feeders with a camera that sends live stream images to my phone. Seeing each one flitting in and out, pecking at seeds with a calm purpose, makes me smile. The simplicity of their actions is a peaceful backdrop to the complexity of the world beyond, where problems often seem as chaotic as the flapping of bird wings.
Yet, just as birds instinctively know how to navigate their environment, we, too, must learn how to approach the challenges of our time. Capitalizing on earlier research by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber, who first organized problems into categories labeled “tame” or “wicked,” Joseph Bentley and Michael Toth sought to explore how contemporary challenges could benefit from the findings of those studies. Problems defined as tame “lend themselves to straightforward solutions while wicked problems were inherently difficult to solve.” Examples include building a website for a company or optimizing staff scheduling for greater efficiency.[1] Examples of wicked problems include improving education or reducing mass incarceration, but these don’t have straightforward solutions. They are interconnected with many different factors and often require a combination of strategies that must evolve over time.[2]
In Exploring Wicked Problems, Bentley and Toth examine wicked problems, including their systems, stakeholder conflicts, and the idea that a flexible, iterative solution could provide the best solution.
The Tame Problem: Easy Peasy
When we think about tame problems, it’s easy to feel comforted by how simple they seem. They are usually pretty straightforward, with a clear scope, and the solutions are either already known or easy to figure out. For example, building a website for a small business will require a layout design, assurance that it’s user-friendly and that basic functionality is included. Luckily, many tools, templates, and “off-the-shelf” models make this much easier. You can also test iterations in a controlled environment to see how they perform quickly.
Adding More Wickedness to Complex and Unpredictable Problems
On the other hand, wicked problems are large, messy issues that don’t have easy fixes. Mass incarceration is a classic wicked problem because it is tied to so many different factors—economic inequality, racial disparities, outdated policies, and even the influence of private prisons that incarcerate people for profit. In her book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander said, “The system of mass incarceration is not a system that can be fixed with a single solution or a quick fix. It is a complex, interconnected problem with deep roots in our history, culture, and politics. To truly dismantle it, we need a fundamental transformation in how we think about race, justice, and equality in this country.”[3]
Mass incarceration is a wicked problem that will need more than simply tweaking laws or making minimal reforms; it will require a significant systemic change in how we think about justice to address social and economic inequalities. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and progress will be slow with a lot of circular debate. Also, what works in one community might not work in another, and what seems like a step forward can sometimes bring even more significant problems or, as Bently and Toth say, “Add more wickedness”[4] that needs flexible, evolving strategies to adapt as we learn more and realize new hurdles.
Conclusion
While the distinction between tame and wicked problems may be helpful to some, I didn’t find the categorization or this book particularly helpful. Real-world problems are rarely as neat and clean as these categories. Challenges can feel tame initially but evolve into wicked problems over time.
Furthermore, wicked problems aren’t necessarily impossible to solve. They may require ongoing attention but often involve incremental improvements rather than looking for a single, final solution. Bentley and Toth argue that while wicked problems are complex, people addressing them can benefit from applying systems thinking—considering each issue holistically and exploring various solutions from different angles.[5]
Whether solving a tame problem like building a small business website or addressing a wicked challenge like mass incarceration, the key lies in understanding the nature of the problem. For tame problems, clear guidelines and established solutions can lead to success. However, when addressing a wicked problem, flexibility, collaboration, and long-term commitment to meaningful, incremental change will be important. Bentley and Toth’s exploration of wicked problems reminds us that while we may not have all the answers, approaching them with patience and adaptability can lead us closer to solutions[6]—just like birds finding their way back to the feeder time and again.
[1] Bentley, Joseph C., and Michael A. Toth. Exploring Wicked Problems: What They Are and Why They Are Important. Bloomington, IN: Archway Publishing, 2020.
[2] Wedell-Wedellsborg, Thomas. What’s Your Problem? To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve. La Vergne: Harvard Business Review Press, 2020.
[3] Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Tenth anniversary edition. New York London: The New Press, 2020.
[4] Bentley, Joseph C., and Michael A. Toth. Exploring Wicked Problems: What They Are and Why They Are Important. Bloomington, IN: Archway Publishing, 2020. P.189.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.3 responses to “From Free Birds to Jail Birds: Wicked Problems”
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Thank you Jennifer for your thoughtful post. Can you share an example of a time when a problem started tame and became wicked?
Jennifer,
Love bird watching as well. Once this semester is done, I will head up to a spot on Lake Erie to view the migrating songbirds.
Mass incarceration is a wicked mess, not just a problem. You suggest it will require systemic changes to adequately address it. How hopeful are you that this nation will find the courage to make the necessary changes?
Hi Jennifer,
In your opinion, what are the most significant factors that contribute to the complexity and “wickedness” of the mass incarceration problem?