1 of 100 Suchness of Wicked Problems through Nemetic Lenses

Wicked Problems arise from consequences of 'dynamic iterations of processes'

 

“Dynamic iterations of processes” (memory, learning, eating, walking, designing, beating of hearts, economics, living etc) which is central to our continued existence as human species is also the cause of creating 'wicked problems'. Far from being an ordered system that we might like it to be, dynamic iteration of processes continually shape and change our environment forcing us to constantly adapt to such changes, failing which, we create our own wicked problems.

What initially starts out as an ordered system invariably veers towards complexity upon dynamic iteration of a process, which occasionally slips into chaos to create new dynamic orders and forms that replace previous situations. Undoubtedly the dynamism processes when repeated over and over again generate various consequences. These consequences emanating from iterative processes create 'Wicked Problems' that nag us.

When caught between wicked problems, we yearn for safe ways to wriggle out from its clutches. But it is difficult unless the processes, which are dynamic systems, aren't changed or modified or redesigned according to contextual reality we face. However, we would not like to change any present system unless the returns from the present system are so meagre that it is no longer possible to live with some sense of human dignity and emotional well being.

For example, embracing the industrial age gave us huge benefits that enabled us to live better than what we did during our engagement with 'agricultural age'. But it also brought along with it a wide gamut of 'wicked problems' that we often find so difficult to eliminate or address like 'poverty', 'unemployment', 'pollution', 'water crisis', 'education', 'health care', 'child labor', 'broken homes', 'crimes', 'wars', and 'new diseases' like obesity, bird flu, AIDS, ADD etc.

Needless to say that it is impossible to like these problems. And some of us intensely pine for a different life or outcome. But is that possible?

It is immanently clear that the efforts we have so far initiated to address the 'wicked problems' are far from reassuring. However, it is also clear that necessary changes might be brought about though 'collective action' informed by changes in cognition and collective consciousness.

It depends on our ability to 'innovate' in such ways so as to resolve “man made wicked problems” faced by us, humbly acknowledging the fact that the 'wicked problems' can only be resolved when the necessary conditions to resolve them (to be dealt in the next chapter) exist.

Nemetics as a discipline is exploited not only to understand the world around us but also the gain necessary insights to remain in step or sync with the dynamics of our present 'means of reproduction' (the iterated process) which in many ways resemble the random, erratic and often chaotic dance of Shiva. The events around us shape our consciousness and change our behavior, which in turn enable us to engage in uniquely redesigning our present systems for the better.

 

CL - Self Organising Movement in Complexity

Electrons, Corrosion, Particles, Water, Smoke, Population, Bacteria, Organizations, Societies, Nations, Human minds have one thing in common. They all move. All such movements grow and evolve, not through top-down direction and control, but through balancing of opposite forces or diverse ideas, changes in quantities that change the quality of movement and change of phase transformation of becoming through the elimination of previous states of being. But what changes situations are changes in relationships that, so to say, hold the 'organism' together.

We may say that social relationships are built around opposing or diverse ideas, apparently paradoxical, that mutually support relationships that are mostly non-linear lending the inherent 'complexity' in its movement and behavior that defies individual control of human beings. New ideas gain traction or lose it depending on their inherent appeal and utility and desire of people. Leaders in such movements give shape and flow to such collective desires. Individuals coalease spontaneously as do individual groups. Such spontaneous self organization helps new alliances to emerge rooted in the situation and the mutual needs of the groups (which I call as 'situatedness') depending on what works for those involved in the moment. What exactly would emerge is both difficult to assess and predict with great degree of certainty. While some alliances are fleeting; others endure; and some serve their purpose before they dissolve. Whatever, it might be, the states always transforming and changing. Such becoming is the nature of complex systems.

Therefore, in short, social systems self-organize around ideas and non-linear relationships. They are living, complex, dynamic, and constantly evolving as they and their members learn from shared experience generated by various leaders who emerge at different points of time and space.

This is because as social movements develop, multiple sources of leadership are essential since improvements and movements of complex systems affect the whole and never in parts. Any individual or group, however that presumes to be the leader of the whole or aspires to organize a central coordinating body to impose order on the chaos does not understand the process of self generated chaos itself which is nothing but directional order. Hence self-organizing chaos is integral to the movement building process and essential to its success of the whole of complex systems.

Those who understand the complexity of the self organizing, self sustaining process are creative leaders.

 

CL - stands for Creative Leadership.

Creative Leader of the Week -- Anupam Mishra

Anupam Mishra in his very characteristic eloquent style talks about the ancient ingenuity of water harvesting in India to provide bacteria free potable water to the masses without the help of modern chemicals and modern water treatment facilities.

Of interest to note are the following:

a) The techniques that were used.

b) The application of collective engineering

c) The sense of collective ownership of resources in India which runs in the culture even today

d) Community and culture lead projects based on wisdom and understanding systems and great design thinking ideas that squarely defeat modern engineering ideas.

e) Examples of collective participation and collective contribution to welfare of society.

Moral:

The understanding of social problems is limited by the social consciousness of a culture and design solutions must be based on the culture of the land to suit the way of life not to change the way of living.

Hope you would enjoy this talk.