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# Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning

## Details

**Authors** Rittel and Webber

**Year** 1973

**Publisher** Policy Sciences

**Discipline** Philosophy

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01405730) 
10.1007/bf01405730

## In authors' words

### What they set out to do (purpose)

Studied how systems thinking could be useful in solving "wicked problems."

### What they found (results)

The perspective one uses to see problems has shifted from the problems being “definable, understandable, and consensual.” You cannot use trial and error to solve a wicked problem as the solution will have a great impact on the system. The recognition of wicked problems has led to the reexamination of national values and goals. This was done by shifting the Perspective one took on the Systems they worked with. Instead of looking at just the parts of the Systems, they were encouraged to look at the Systems from the view of “What do these systems do?”, and more importantly, “What should these systems do?” They needed to explicitly Distinguish what their desired outcome was, and how taking that Perspective would change the System.

## Commentary

### In short

A deeper understanding of the Systems and wicked problems they face, leads to identifying the root causes of the problem in the first place

### In more detail

Of equal importance at this time was the work by Rittel and Webber 1973 in the field of planning, and demonstrated how systems thinking could be helpful in solving “wicked problems.” The perspective one uses to see problems has shifted from the problems being “definable, understandable, and consensual.” Wicked problems are characterized as; undefinable, have endless effects (some known and some unknown), there is usually no right answer to solve them, and they are incredibly hard to test. You cannot use trial and error to solve a wicked problem as the solution will have a great impact on the system. The recognition of wicked problems has led to the reexamination of national values and goals. This was done by shifting the Perspective one took on the Systems they worked with. Instead of looking at just the parts of the Systems, they were encouraged to look at the Systems from the view of “What do these systems do?”, and more importantly, “What should these systems do?” They needed to explicitly Distinguish what their desired outcome was, and how taking that Perspective would change the System. Explicating their outcomes led to a deeper awareness of the interconnections among parts of the Systems,

and that awareness made it necessary to expand and work with the boundaries they had placed for that System. Thus, a deeper understanding of the Systems and wicked problems they face, leads to identifying the root causes of the problem in the first place.

**Patterns it shows** D, S, R, P

**How to cite this** Rittel and Webber (1973). Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning. Policy Sciences.