Week 4 - WICKED PROBLEMS IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND HOW TO RESOLVE THEM

Task 1: Presentation 

In this presentation, I introduce you to a concept you may have come across already in the program - wicked problems. Most - if not all - of the world's enduring problems are wicked in the sense that there is no easy, linear solution: poverty, reducing carbon emissions, obesity, inequality, etc. Each has very clear health consequences and responding to them presents a real policy challenge. The most obvious and contemporary example is, of course, the pandemic Covid-19. I explain why Covid-19 is indeed a wicked problem. 

Task 2: Reading  

van Woezik, A.F.G., Braakman-Jansen, L.M.A., Kulyk, O. et al. Tackling wicked problems in infection prevention and control: a guideline for co-creation with stakeholders. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 5, 20 (2016).  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-016-0119-2 

This is a really interesting reading but it will take you a bit of time and effort to work through it. It’s highly relevant though as it describes the importance of involving stakeholders in any response to infection prevention. After you’ve read it, watch my short presentation where I talk through some of the key points in the reading. 

Task 3: Video of reading  

In this video, I talk briefly about what I took to be the main points from the reading by van Woezik et al. 

Task 4: Presentation by Owen Barder  

The presentation entitled Development, complexity and evolution is excellent and makes a compelling argument for why so-called feedback loops are essential for resolving wicked problems. You can also view it via Owen's blog here. 

Development complexity and evolution 

Owen Barder used to be the personal private secretary to Tony Blair, but these days he leads the European arm of the think tank The Centre for Global Development.  

Task 5: Video 

Ted Talk: Got a wicked problem? First, tell me how you make toast 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vS_b7cJn2A 

Please watch this Ted Talk by Tom Wujec – it's less than ten minutes, but I think it’s really fascinating. It’s a talk about how people make sense of, and resolve, wicked problems. The point of watching this video is that it shows you how to go about resolving a wicked problem. It gives you a method that you may want to try if you are ever in a position – may be in later life – when you have to work out how to do deal with something complex.  

For now, write down the key points that you take away from the talk. In week 8, you will have an opportunity to try and resolve the wicked problem of flooding from the perspective of multiple different stakeholders.  

READING