EUKN Policy Lab
25 June 2013 I Luxembourg I Cercle Cité
Project “Neischmelz”
in Dudelange
Approaches to cope with wicked
problems in the development of a
sustainable quarter
Jürgen Staadt
Fonds pour le développement du logement et de l’habitat
RSM, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
EUKN Policy Lab
25 June 2013 I Luxembourg I Cercle Cité
Contents:
1. The challenges that lie ahead
2. Methodological approach
3. Analysis of the cognitive map
4. Workshops provide Soft Systems Methodology model
5. Conclusion and outlook
1. The challenges that lie ahead
Complex problems and threats such as environmental degradation,
global warming, social injustice … (Magala, 2012)
take part in the development of sustainable urban projects - HOWEVER
How can these issues be managed if we are confronted with wicked rather
than tame problems (e.g. social complexity in the political process)?
(Rittel & Webber, 1973)
Society will not benefit from the full potential and the possibilities of
sustainable urban projects, if we do not learn to cope with wickedness and
its consequences within the development process.
The aim of this presentation is to show how other methods could be used
to tackle wickedness in urban development.
1. The challenges that lie ahead
Wicked problems in the development of a sustainable quarter
• Stakeholders have radically different world views / perspectives
• Uncertainty, ambiguity and resistance to change
• Political, economic and cultural constraints
(Horn & Weber, 2007)
Observations in the project “NEISCHMELZ” initiated the quest for methods
and methodologies that could be used in approaching wickedness.
Our first question was:
What is sustainable development in urban and regional planning?
Participants in the four workshops:
• President of the Fonds du Logement
• Two members of the Housing Ministry
• Two members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Collaborator of the Fonds du Logement (acting as facilitator)
2. Methodological approach
The workshops were undertaken between January and June 2011 based on
the Oval Mapping Technique (Rosenhead & Mingers, 2001).
Ideas, values and assumptions are collected on ovals which are grouped or
clustered and then organised in a hierarchical manner. Affiliations between
ideas and clusters are constantly checked and adapted.
The results of each workshop were photographed and summarised in a
report which contained an overall picture of the map as well as the
different clusters elaborated so far.
2. Methodological approach
Having acquired the software “Decision Explorer”, from the third workshop
on, we had the possibility to further elaborate the map by means of
computer (278 statements or concepts).
3. Analysis of the cognitive map
In order to clearly identify the busiest concepts, the computer map was
first analysed by carrying out a domain analysis (Reynolds & Holwell, 2010)
which elaborates potential key issues by calculating the ingoing and
outgoing links.
The results were further analysed by carrying out a central analysis which
calculates a score to determine how central a concept is in the model.
4. Workshops provide Soft Systems Methodology model
The key issues analysed were used for the elaboration of a soft systems
methodology model which provides a basis for questioning the current
design and implementation processes in Luxembourg.
Root definition:
A government-owned system, operating within political and
economic constraints, to promote sustainable development
in building, city and regional planning activities, by proposing
a basic model for strategic implementation in public sector
organisations, so as to provide future generations with the
same conditions as their predecessors.
The model should support public and semi-public entities with a means to
question their strategies with regard to sustainable development.
4. Workshops provide Soft Systems Methodology model
Each item can be regarded as a system with further subsystems which can
be chosen if considered relevant (Checkland & Scholes, 1990).
5. Conclusion and outlook
We found that sustainable development in urban and regional planning is
understood, judged, valued and used in different ways. This requires the
use of problem structuring methods and methodologies, without this
necessarily replacing problem solving methods.
It is important that government understands and accepts that there are no
quick fixes regarding wicked problems.
The management of wicked problems is in need of holistic rather than
linear thinking.
Systems thinking adds to scientific reductionism. It is an attempt to keep
much of the tradition but to supplement it by tackling complex problems
through thinking in wholes.
We recommend that qualitative approaches in managing wicked problems
in urban, regional and organisational development should be further
fostered.
EUKN Policy Lab
25 June 2013 I Luxembourg I Cercle Cité
Project “Neischmelz”
in Dudelange
Thank you very much
for your attention
Jürgen Staadt
Fonds pour le développement du logement et de l’habitat
RSM, Erasmus University, Rotterdam