Just Transition (part one): Sustainability as a wicked problem
ModulesJust Transition (part one): Sustainability as a wicked problem
This Micromodule introduces sustainability as a wicked problem and highlights the importance of Perspective Taking, Systems Thinking, and Negotiation in engineering.
By the end of the module participants will be able to:
- Understand the wicked nature of sustainability and recognize the complexity of balancing environmental, social, and economic dimensions in engineering decisions.
- Apply transversal skills — Perspective Taking, Systems Thinking, and Negotiation — to analyze and solve complex sustainability challenges in engineering contexts.
- Evaluate material and design choices considering environmental impacts, societal wellbeing, and ethical responsibilities to promote sustainable engineering practices.
- Reflect on the broader responsibilities of engineers in creating solutions that are socially responsible, environmentally sound, and technically effective.
What is this about?
A wicked problem is a type of problem that is very complex, hard to define clearly, and has no single correct solution. These problems are tricky because every attempt to solve them can change the problem itself.
This Micromodule introduces sustainability as a wicked problem and highlights the importance of Perspective Taking, Systems Thinking, and Negotiation in engineering. Through interactive exercises, participants will evaluate environmental and social impacts, make informed material and design choices, and reflect on engineers’ broader responsibilities in creating sustainable solutions.Sustainability as a wicked problem
The purpose of this exercise is to facilitate an understanding of sustainability as a wicked problem. At the end of the video, some questions will help you reflect on what you have seen.
Explore: Skills for Sustainable Problem-Solving.
After reading the text below, complete each blank by selecting the most appropriate word from the list provided. This activity is designed to help you reflect on how these skills contribute to addressing complex sustainability challenges and improving problem-solving in engineering contexts.You may find it helpful to review the key concept definitions below before completing the activity.A wicked problem is a complex and difficult-to-define challenge that involves multiple stakeholders, competing values, and interconnected factors. These problems do not have a single correct solution, and attempts to address one aspect may create new challenges. Sustainability is often considered a wicked problem because it requires balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations.
Perspective taking is the ability to temporarily adopt and understand the viewpoints of others in a purposeful and cognitive way. It helps engineers explore different stakeholder needs and constraints, improves how problems are framed, and supports ethical reasoning and negotiation between competing perspectives. Developing perspective-taking skills enables engineers to design more inclusive and sustainable solutions.
Systems thinking is a way of reasoning that involves understanding how components of a system interact and produce outcomes. It allows engineers to analyze complex phenomena, recognize relationships and interdependencies, and predict potential consequences. Systems thinking is particularly important for sustainability, as it helps engineers consider broader contexts and make informed decisions about complex systems.
Negotiation is the process of balancing different stakeholder interests to reach informed and mutually acceptable solutions. In engineering, negotiation involves mediating between diverse perspectives, optimizing available resources, and advocating for stakeholders who cannot represent themselves, such as the environment. Strong negotiation skills are essential for addressing sustainability challenges effectively.
Adopt perspective, think systematically, negotiate, be fair.
This final exercise helps you reflect on the role of engineers in promoting sustainability. Read each statement carefully and select True (T) or False (F). Consider environmental, social, and ethical impacts as well as the transversal skills—Perspective Taking, Systems Thinking, and Negotiation—you explored in previous activities. This activity reinforces your understanding of sustainable decision-making in engineering.
