This document discusses wicked problems and open innovation approaches to solving them. It defines wicked problems as having unclear definitions and solutions, involving multiple stakeholders with differing views. Normal solutions do not work for wicked problems which can only be understood through attempting solutions. It advocates understanding stakeholders and problems by questioning assumptions and mapping relationships. It then suggests ideating solutions through diverse groups, experimenting with early adopters, and implementing through the early majority. The periodic table framework shown organizes these open innovation activities for addressing wicked challenges through collaboration with society.

1. wicked-open-innovate
TOPS Symposium 2014
Sameer Vasta
MaRS Discovery District

2. wicked problems
• clear problem definition
• single organization
• regular leadership: implement existing solution
• clear and finite problem definition, but urgent need for solution
• need for new solutions, more permission for action and innovation
• directive leadership: demand for action and for someone taking
control
• unclear problem definition, not finite
• requires innovation and learning, as well as multiple agencies
• adaptive leadership: to create multi-stakeholders environments and
experiment
tame
problem
crisis
problem
wicked
problem
Grint, Keith. "Problems, problems, problems: The social construction of ‘leadership’." Human relations 58, no. 11 (2005): 1467-1494.

3. wicked problems
wicked
problem
No agreement on the nature of the problem, and
certainly no clear view on what interventions
might work to resolve it. (Rittel & Webber, 1973;
Grint, 2005)
There is often a gap between the expressed
values, beliefs and attitudes of a community (or
organization) and their behaviours in practice.
(Heifetz, 1995)
There are multiple stakeholders involved,
some of them are unknown or invisible
There are complex interdependencies,
which may reveal or create new
problems when trying to solve aspects
of the wicked problem
Normal solutions do not longer
seem to work
You only understand the problem
once you try solving it

4. social &
economic
challenges
public
systems
complexity
time

5. government society
difficult to attract and retain people,
potential shortages
less public resources
due to the financial crisis
operating in vertical structures
people better educated and informed,
and many want to be engaged
more private capital for social good
available than ever before
technology enables us to collaborate
and perform complex tasks horizontally
decrease of
problem solving capacity
problem solving capacity
record high

8. meeting system challenges
with society
(not for society)

9. innovation
the implementation of
a new or significantly improved product
(good or service), or process, a new
marketing method, or a new organisational
method in business practices, workplace
organisation or external relations.
Oslo Manual, OECD and Eurostat, 2007

10. open government innovation
for wicked problems
with
stakeholders
understand
with
innovators
ideate
with early
adopters
experiment
with early
majority
implement

11. How many designers does it take
to screw in a light bulb?
with
stakeholders
understand

12. How many designers does it take
to screw in a light bulb?
Why does it have to be a light bulb?
Seriously … why?
with
stakeholders
understand

13. start with the citizen
ask “stupid” questions
(question assumptions)
listen + observe
map the relations
look for uncertainties
(opportunities for change)
with
stakeholders
understand

14. How can we sell more cars?
with
innovators
ideate

15. How can we sell more cars?
Design the best cars possible.
Manufacture the best quality cars possible.
Offer the most generous loans possible.
with
innovators
ideate

16. include users, experts & innovators
wild cards, outsiders and unusual suspects
think about scaling early
leverage assets in the whole system
with
innovators
ideate

17. Use cases, scenarios
Continuous evaluation
Prototypes
(vs.)
Pilots
with early
adopters
experiment

18. meet wicked challenges
with open government
with society

19. So
Solutions
Po
Policy
CA
Capacity
H
Hypothesis
U
Understand
F
Frame
ST
Stakeholder
R
Research
Co
Co-create
V
Vision
I
Innovator
T
Test
PR
Prototype
Ev
Evidence
EA
Early Adopter
M
Market
SC
Scale
PC
Policy Change
EM
Early Majority
Periodic Table of Systems Change