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Sustainable Development as a Wicked Problem

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Managing and Engineering in Complex Situations

Part of the book series: Topics in Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality ((TSRQ,volume 21))

Abstract

This concept paper introduces the notion of sustainable development (SD) as a wicked problem. The characteristics of a wicked problem are reviewed and briefly discussed as they apply to SD. Sustainability is marked by a high degree of stakeholder subjectivity. Its long history can invoke multiple concepts such as resource scarcity, conservationism, environmentalism, or a business model. Because of the different levels of complexity and extensive network of stakeholders, sustainable development makes for apt designation as a wicked problem. It is also proposed that wicked problems can be reduced to two basic elements: kinetic and subjective. Because of the complexity involved in tackling SD as a wicked problem, the usage of Systems of Systems (SoS) platforms are briefly described and deliberated.

“…what progress denigrates and if necessary punishes are any serious attempts to focus on an integrated view of human actions.”

John Ralston Saul (1995)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Applied Science and Management Program, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Jonathan Pryshlakivsky

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Cory Searcy

Authors
  1. Jonathan Pryshlakivsky
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  2. Cory Searcy
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Correspondence to Cory Searcy .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Old Dominion University, Engineering Management and Systems Engin, Batten College of Engineering and Techno, Kaufman Hall 242, Norfolk, 23529, Virginia, USA

    Samuel F. Kovacic

  2. Old Dominion University, Engineering Management and Systems Engin, Batten College of Engineering and Techno, Kaufman Hall 242, Norfolk, 23529, Virginia, USA

    Andres Sousa-Poza

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Pryshlakivsky, J., Searcy, C. (2013). Sustainable Development as a Wicked Problem. In: Kovacic, S., Sousa-Poza, A. (eds) Managing and Engineering in Complex Situations. Topics in Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5515-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5515-4_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5514-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5515-4

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