# Understanding Complex Problems ![Adapted from Zimmerman, Westley, & Quinn Patton. Getting to Maybe, 2006 as cited in Weinlick & Velji, Social Innovation Field Guide, Think Jar Collective. https://thinkjarcollective.com/tools/social-innovation-lab-field-guide/](/files/-LlDndhKUJAbznE6-N6I) ## What are 'complex problems' anyway? They are: * Difficult to address and change with every attempt to address it * Involve many stakeholders with different values and priorities * Have causes and drivers that are interdependent and filled with uncertainties * Are unique and have no precedent * Do not have definitive criteria or indications for the right solutions *Adapted from Camillus, Harvard Business Review.* [*Strategy as a Wicked Problem*](https://hbr.org/2008/05/strategy-as-a-wicked-problem)*, 2008.* {% hint style="warning" %} We are surrounded by problems that are complex. Think of declining species or the warming of our oceans, rising housing costs, socio-economic inequality and the list goes on. \ \ What complex problems are you working on, and how are you learning about them? {% endhint %} ### **Three Perspectives to Understanding a Problem** There are three perspectives to understanding a problem; individual, institutional, and systemic. ![Source: MaRS Solutions Lab ](/files/-LfuSoiGLhCgz_J-gx3P) A systems perspective helps us see the complexity of a challenge, to identify who is or needs to be involved and to decide where to develop particular actions. {% hint style="info" %} ### Key Resources David Snowden. *Cynefin Framework Introduction.* {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://mars-solutions-lab.gitbook.io/living-guide-to-social-innovation-labs/seeing/understanding-the-problem-systems-and-complexity.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.