Introduction to Wicked Problem Solving

Presently, we live in a period that has a lot of uncertainties. Issues that we face these days are getting not only uncertain but also more challenging and complicated. When a business or even an individual has shallow associations, these issues continually show up. It occurs due to different factors. Examples include siloed organizations, overstimulation, language barriers, more specialized roles and remote teams working across time zones. Understanding this issue, the Project Management Institute (PMI) has buckled up to empower the world. The goal of PMI is to make ideas a reality. To get the work done, Wicked Problem Solving is the rocket fuel as suggested by PMI.

What is Wicked Problem Solving?

Tom Wujec, the Founder, Facilitator and Executive of the Wujec Group Inc has created the Wicked Problem Solving for PMI. It is nothing but a powerful system that helps with breaking down and even solving the most stubborn challenges. These are challenges that businesses face these days. This system has been created by him as the most creative and effective problem-solving solution. He has created this system out of his decades of experience in transforming the most influential companies in the world. With this system, you can:
 

• Get the people required engaged and get them ready to act

• Organize and visualize information in a more effective way

• Ask the right queries to solve any issues

In short, this is an interactive toolkit and self-paced course. Its purpose is to provide detailed examples and processes on how to effectively solve issues. To help you quickly apply what you learn from this toolkit, it comes with a wealth of resources. The resources include an online collaborative white-boarding tool named Miro.

Purpose of Wicked Problem Solving Tool:

The PMI Wicked Problem Solving tool was created with a vision to eradicate wickedness. When reading this statement, you might feel that this was done on moral grounds. But, in reality, the mission of this tool is to tame wicked issues. It means the issues that are known for the high level of complexity and uncertainty. These are issues that are notoriously hard to resolve. Examples of such issues include climate change, a pandemic like Covid-19.

Now, with the examples given above, you might think that this tool is for social issues. But, in reality, these issues can have an impact on businesses as well. For instance, they bring political, environmental and technological shifts. These shifts make this world highly chaotic. Not only in these big issues, but also you can get to see the qualities of wickedness in daily challenges that your business faces.

Are you a project professional? If this is the case, you might be experiencing wicked issues with increasing repetitiveness. Understanding this, the founder of the Wicked Problem Solving System along with PMI has created this system. The creation is for helping project professionals like you. You can get help for cutting through the ambiguity, complexity, uncertainty and volatility of tough challenges. In turn, you can start delivering better results.

In short, when you ask what is wicked problem solving, you can think of the WPS system as a shared operating system. It will help you solve issues and stimulate a better alliance. It does not mean that wicked problem solving can turn out to be a replacement to agile or traditional project management approaches. Nevertheless, it will aid with enhancing them. In other words, when these project management approaches are the gears, WPS can act as a lubricant to make the gears run smoothly. Once you get to learn how to break in a wicked issue, you can employ the same scalable theories and experiential methods. Yes, you can use them for addressing practically any category of issue that your business comes across. The issue can be anything from a minor to even a major issue.

Why Use Wicked Problem Solving System?

In the present situation, issues come in different sizes and shapes for organizations. So, your business should find innovative ways to handle day-to-day challenges. With WPS System, you can begin your journey today. Then, you can make ideas a reality by using the power of creative collaboration and structured thinking.

You know that Project Management System or PMI is the leading professional association in the world. This association has worldwide changemakers and millions of project professionals as part of it. As the leading authority on project management in the world, PMI empowers people to make their ideas a reality. Through education, research, collaboration, networking and global advocacy, PMI is preparing individuals and organizations at every step of their career journey to work smarter. PMI believes that in turn, they can drive success.

With this thought, PMI in association with Tom Wujec, the founder of Wicked Problem Solving System has created WPS. It has been created as a hands-on practical toolkit and course. Together, they believe to offer a system for leading meaningful, impactful, positive and lasting change.

Philosophy of Wicked Problem Solving:

The good thing about the philosophy of wicked problem solving is that it is implanted in cognitive science. Also, it encompasses elements of Agile, Lean and Design Thinking practices. You can do your best when you work in collaboration with others in your team. In the same way, you can do your best when you organize your tasks in a sequence of 'plays'. Further, you can address any challenges coming in your way when you apply the philosophy of  WPS consistently.

Now, you might wonder what does "play" means in WPS. It is the fundamental building block and it encompasses:
 

• Creating a clear picture of the problem that you wish to solve

• To make sure that your team members can think through the problem, the creation of a shared video or image of the problem will help. The good thing about WPS here is that it helps you get to the essence of issues through drawings. You will not deny the fact that anything expressed in the form of a picture is easy to understand and remember. As against just using words, you can make sure that your team members can get a clear picture of the issue to think about. This will happen when they are presented with a visual representation of the issue.

• Task engagement involves laying out an activity such that teams get the required help for solving the issue.

By doing these things, plays give us a way to pay attention, provide a perspective for dealing with the issue and make ideas more unforgettable. Plays are of different types. They vary from simple ones to the most futuristic plays. When it is possible to apply for the former just for any situation, the latter can address more complex issues. When you take the case of an experienced WPS Practitioner, he/she can assemble plays like blocks. In turn, he/she can make it easier for the organization to solve the most strenuous issues.

How To Learn Wicked Problem Solving?

When you wish to implement wicked problem solving in project management, you will have to learn this system first. So, here comes the question of how to learn it. Thanks to PMI! The Project Management Institute now offers the Wicked Problem Solving course online. Not only a course but it is also offered as a tool kit. It is for nurturing the creative problem-solving and collaboration skills of changemakers. In turn, it will be possible to implement design thinking in day-to-day works in your organization. Apart from teaching, this course helps learners to solve issues collaboratively. The reason is that each 10-hour course comes with not only learning videos but also activities.

From this course, the learners can answer the following key questions:
 

• What activities can I provide to my team to aid them with problem-solving?

• How can I visualize the issue?

• How to create a drawing that will act as the shared reference point for the entire team?

• What question should I ask?

• What should I include in the play?

When a course-taker is able to find answers to these four questions, it will be easier for him to break down challenges. Even, he will be in a position to rectify day-to-day issues. He can ensure to engage in conversations that are productive. He will learn how to make meetings more successful.

PMI together with the founder of the Wicked Problem Solving system has created this course easy to learn. Even, the duo has worked hard to make the course as engaging as possible for learners like you. On the course completion, you will undoubtedly have a powerful tool to handle wickedness. Also, you can confidently participate in activities that will help with resolving issues. In turn, project success can be ensured.  

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Conclusion:

Not only for helping businesses. The goal of the Wicked Problem Solving course is to help individuals longing for career advancement. When they take up this course, project professionals can make themselves stand out. They can become competent enough to drive better results and can take more responsibilities. As a result, they can gain better job satisfaction. As a result, they can see their career advancing on different grounds.