ROTTERDAM SCHOOL Of MANAgEMENTERASMUS UNivERSiTy

THE WiCkEDPROBLEMSPLAZA

PARTNERSHiPS RESOURCE CENTRE & NEW WORLD CAMPUS

THE WiCkED PROBLEMS PLAZA

Solutions are often a compromise; there is limited thinking

‘outside of the box’

There is limited willingness to discuss other scenarios

and solutions

There is an absence of a safe space in which to share

dilemmas and expectations, and to work on collaborative and viable solutions.

ThE FoRMaTThe Wicked Problems Plaza (WPP) is an intellectual concept

developed by Professor Rob van Tulder of the Partnerships Resource

Centre (PrC) at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

(RSM). The Wicked Problems Plaza is located in the New World

Campus (NWC) in the Hague, which is a hub for entrepreneurs,

researchers, development practitioners and investors who work

together on global issues relating to sustainability and international

development. The WPP methodology is further developed and

customised by the PrC in collaboration with the NWC.

The WPP aims to provide entrepreneurial’ solutions to societal

problems that require interaction of all societal spheres, and that

lead to sustainable and inclusive approaches. The Plaza brings

stakeholders with diverse – and often divergent – perspectives and

interests together. The Wicked Problems Plaza provides a safe

environment in which participants are taken on a journey – lasting

an hour, a day or more – from abstract problems and vague ideas

to realistic solutions and potential business cases. The Plaza uses

techniques to actively identify dilemmas and remove blockages that

hinder collaborative solutions.

ThE PRoCESSA session at the Wicked Problems Plaza starts with systematic

identification of the dimensions of the problem or of the proposed

solution. it is during this discussion that dilemmas and trade-offs

emerge, and are thoroughly discussed by the stakeholders.

Stakeholders are invited to brainstorm entrepreneurial business ideas

that would be economically, socially and ecologically sustainable and

viable. Each session is guided by skilled facilitators who encourage

participants to think laterally by sharing lessons learned. These might

include ‘brilliant failures’ and ‘idiotic ideas’ that can help to generate

new perspectives. The facilitator ensures that every dimension of the

problem or solution is addressed.

The Plaza does not guarantee ready-to-use solutions. ideas generated

during the sessions will almost certainly require further development

and nurturing. The WPP team will be available to guide the

participants in their next steps. One of the possibilities is to further

develop the ideas in a ‘Sustainable Living Lab’ at the New World

Campus.

Wicked problems are hard to define, let alone solve.

The Wicked Problems Plaza enables participants to

address wicked problems in a systematic and creative

way by identifying and connecting relevant stakeholders

using a scientific methodology. Situated at the heart

of the New World Campus in The hague, the Wicked

Problems Plaza works on facilitating collaborative and

entrepreneurial solutions for wicked problems.

WiCkEd PRoblEMS dEMaNd WiCkEd SolUTioNS The Wicked Problems Plaza makes viable and sustainable solutions

attainable for professionals working in complex environments.

Why WiCkEd PRoblEMS?There are simple problems, and complex problems. Simple problems

are easy to solve. Complex problems resist solving and often require

other ways of thinking. Wicked problems even resist defining. They not

only require other ways of thinking, but also require the involvement

of other (interested) parties to work on solutions. Our increasingly

interconnected world faces many wicked problems, but at the same

time also unprecedented opportunities and innovations to address

them. Wicked problems include challenges like poverty, inequality,

global health and environmental degradation. These challenges

demand new ways of thinking and more sophistical approaches based

on collaboration with a large number of stakeholders.

Wicked Problems share four characteristics:

1. incomplete or contradicting information

2. A large diversity of opinions and possible solutions that obstructs

the achievement of any definite strategy

3. Economic costs that are too big for the individual parties involved

4. Stakeholders that have unequal or incongruent desires and stakes.

Wicked problems are cross-sectoral and universal, and therefore

demand change that involves stakeholders from every part of society:

from profit, non-profit, public and private organisations.

There are several reasons why wicked problems are not adequately

addressed:

Not all stakeholders are fully engaged

The real problem is not addressed because suggested solutions

are too simple, too technical or too naïve

There is no realistic business case for the solution, so its

financial sustainability is limited

Expectations are too optimistic or too divergent

THE WiCkED PROBLEMS PLAZA

ThE hEaRT oF ThE NEW WoRld CaMPUS The plaza is the heart of the NWC in The Hague. The Plaza is designed

to function as a ‘pressure cooker’ and a safe space to trigger ideas and

work on collaborative, creative, entrepreneurial and realistic solutions

for wicked problems. During focal WPP sessions the Plaza is closed,

but if there are no sessions in progress the WPP is open for the public.

There’s a permanent display of ideas around the NWC corridor to

inspire people taking part in wicked problems sessions. They show

common projects and themes in which the NWC is active.

During open sessions the New World Campus community can take

part in a WPP session, and can contribute to wicked problems such

as ‘improving food production in Africa’; ‘increasing water productivity

– creating more crop per drop’; ‘Solving the plastic soup’; and wicked

problems related to Sustainable Development goals.

The Wicked Problems Plaza is a multifunctional and safe space

in which participants are encouraged to behave in a way that

addresses wicked problems in a constructive sequence. Participants

are encouraged to use their collective intelligence to bring critical

elements in at the right time and create real and sustainable solutions

that are both pragmatic and idealistic.

iNTENdEd FoR Who? This is an opportunity for organisations and individuals to expand

their comfort zones within a safe and well-organised space. it might

be that the WPP can help if you have an idea that does not sit

comfortably, a solution that nobody understands, or a problem that

is not addressed. The Wicked Problems Plaza enables participants to

co-create entrepreneurial solutions to complex problems such as the

implementation of the Sustainable Development goals.

The Wicked Problems Plaza is intended for professionals and leaders

of NgOs, companies, government institutions, and in general, groups

interested in approaches that encourage ‘out-of-the-box thinking’.

Each session is tailor-made to your particular wicked problem, which

means the session will require you to do some preparation. you’ll get

help from the WPP team to identify your stakeholders and how to use

the Plaza, and we’ll recommend follow-up activities. The team has a

wide network of organisations, companies and knowledge institutions

that can help you bring relevant stakeholders into your session.

Hosting a Wicked Problems Plaza session at the New World Campus

has the added benefit of involving the wider network of the New World

Campus. The facilitation team uses specifically devised methods to

guide participants through the process, and helps them to continue

the journey by providing support in building partnerships, developing

businesses and offering the opportunity to create a Sustainable Living

Lab for developing and testing and prototype solutions.

Please contact Harry Derksen for any queries about the Wicked

Problems Plaza:

Email harry.derksen@newworldcampus.nl

Tel. +31 6 2223 1149

New World Campus

Spaarneplein 2

2515 vk DEN HAAg

“you cannot solve a problem with the same kind of thinking that created the problem in the first place”

Albert Einstein

Participants move through four spaces representing distinct phases and dimensions

of the challenge at hand.

the interest space

the equity space

the efficiency space

the partnering space

These spaces are instrumental for finding novel but viable solutions. The Plaza offers

modern tools and infrastructure so participants can go through these phases in a

structured, safe and inspiring way while having fun. The sequence of phases may change

according to the nature of the basic proposition, or its departure from the viewpoint of a

solution, a problem or an ideal.

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

is a top tier European business school and ranked

among the top three for research. RSM provides

ground-breaking research and education furthering

excellence in all aspects of management. RSM’s

primary focus is on developing business leaders

with international careers who carry their innovative

mindset into a sustainable future thanks to a first-class

range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive

programmes. RSM also has offices in the Amsterdam

Zuidas business district and in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Partnerships Resource Centre

Mandeville Building T4-22

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50

3062 PA Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Tel. + 31 10 408 1126

Email prc@rsm.nl

WWW.RSM.NL

The New World Campus

is a community of entrepreneurs, researchers,

development practitioners and investors who work

together on global issues relating sustainability and

international development. These complex problems

affect all countries and can only be solved by matching

the innovative capacities of parties from different areas

of expertise. The ambition of the New World Campus

is to stimulate cooperation between these different

actors and hence accelerate the innovations by

connecting them both online and offline at a physical

Campus space in The Hague. Connecting knowledge to

entrepreneurship and accelerating growth of innovative

solutions are the key elements of the New World

Campus.

15

05

. w

ww

.pan

art.

nl

© 2015 Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. The information in this publication is correct as of May 2015, but RSM reserves the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curricula, or any other matter announced in this publication without further notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission from RSM.

Follow us on:

new worldCAMPUS