The Construction of Wicked Problems

Abstract

The use of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) to address wicked problems (Rittel and Webber, Churchman), messes (Ackoff), swamps (Rosenhead), in a plural/complex context (Jackson) tends to go without question within the OR community. However, what other methodologies exist in sources outside the systems/PSM/Soft OR corpus that address the same type of problems and what might this say about their nature, their ontology? We approach this question through the use of citation analysis and present some details of alternative methodological approaches from different traditions. At the very least these suggest promising avenues for conversations to share experience by scholars and practitioners alike but also to prompt a re-evaluation of the scope of applicability of PSMs.