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Leadership for Sustainability

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Leadership for Sustainability

Strategies for Tackling Wicked Problems

Island Press,

15 min read
8 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

“Wicked” problems pave the path to sustainability. These wicked leadership skills will help you solve them.

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8

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Background
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

The challenges the world faces today are particularly complex: They cross boundaries, lack win-win solutions, are dynamic and create uncertainty. But that doesn’t mean they’re intractable, sustainability experts R. Bruce Hull, David P. Robertson and Michael Mortimer report. Wicked problems demand an equally complex and strategic approach to finding solutions. From embracing shared leadership, to anticipating the future strategically, and learning to change course nimbly as circumstances change, the authors’ strategies and examples guide you toward a mind-set and skills for leading the way to a more just, sustainable society and planet.

Summary

Society needs “wicked” leaders to navigate the Anthropocene – today’s geological era – successfully.

Human domination of the planet Earth, dramatic change and increased uncertainty characterize today’s geological era, the Anthropocene. In many ways, life is better than ever. But society faces severe problems, including climate change, tribal politics, resource scarcities, conflict, and huge changes in markets, cities and governance systems.

Problems come in four kinds. 

  1. Tame – These problems are complex, but familiar. People know how to solve them. 
  2. Crisis – These problems involve threats and uncertainty, and demand command-and-control leadership. 
  3. Wicked – These dynamic problems cross boundaries, lack win-win solutions and create uncertainty. 
  4. Super-wicked – These problems are slow-moving, bear immense uncertainty and threaten disastrous consequences. Those seeking solutions often cause these problems, which involve a range of stakeholders.

 

The wicked problems of the Anthropocene&#...

About the Authors

R. Bruce Hull, David P. Robertson and Michael Mortimer are senior fellows with Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability.

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