Types of Problems
Problems that are hard to solve and that feel out of our control to affect are called “ complex problems”, “sticky problems” or “wicked problems”. Systems Thinking is useful when dealing with complex problems. However, not all problems are complex. What’s the difference between types of problems? Frances Welsey and Brenda Zimmerman of the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience give the following examples to illustrate the difference between simple, complicated and complex problems.
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Let’s look at a simple problem first. I need to make a cake. Making a cake is a simple problem. Why? Because if you follow the recipe and create the same conditions (an oven, the correct order), you will produce the same result every time - a cake. This is a problem with a clear solution that you can use every time the problem arises.
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Let’s look at the second type of problem: A complicated problem. The example of sending a rocket to the moon is complicated. Why? You need experience, knowledge, training, elaborate equipment, exact conditions and calculations, combined according to precise formulas in order to achieve success. This is difficult and complicated. However, if you have these necessary components in the correct combination, you can send a rocket to the moon with repeated success.
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What is an example of a complex problem? Raising a good person. How do you raise a good person? There are no instructions. You may have read books on the subject, but this may not help. Experience might help, but it doesn’t guarantee success. Even if you raised a good person before, using the same method may not succeed a second time. Your parental expertise will only do so much because every child is unique. You will also respond uniquely to the child, because they will draw on different aspects of who you are as a parent. You cannot control the child, or the influences in the child’s life. Constantly-evolving society, schooling, and peer groups are different every time. This example allows us to see what complexity means. So, what is key in the raising of the child? It is about relationships. The connection between you and your child, and your ability to respond to a constantly changing person and environment with love and guidance -and without trying to control too harshly - is what creates a strong bond. However, you do not control the outcome of your parental interventions. This is an example of a complex problem. Climate change, a global pandemic, human migration, and poverty are all other examples of complex problems demonstrating the need for mindsets and approaches that embrace complexity.
The University of Waterloo's Centre for Teaching Excellence has developed an online tipsheet called Teaching Problem Solving Skills to help college professors teach problem-solving skills, as these skills are highly valued by employers and are essential for success in many fields. The tipsheet provides practical strategies and activities that professors can use to help learners develop and enhance their problem-solving abilities.