A little slide show to explain the 'wicked problem' of information systems, and an approach called the IBIS, issue based information system

1. Problem Solving with Issue Based Information System [IBIS] and ‘Wicked Problems’ techniques June 2008

3. Mitigations to the wicked information systems problem Put a stake in the ground Diversity is honored Communications increase by nearly N 2 Team members may work on different elements at the same time Iteration and experimentation is encouraged Mitigation At the point of diminishing improvement, in spite continuing debate and experimentation, a solution emerges when the stake is put in the ground The diversity of stakeholders adds to the richness of the solution. The community of stakeholders opens N*(N-1) communication paths, potentially a cacophony of messages and opinions facilitated by both virtual and real connectivity Progress is measured more by the quality of the emerging solution than by the check-off of the waterfall milestones. Quality means: fit to function, environment, technical feasibility, and fit to stakeholder acceptance The problem evolves from the solution, a reversal of the normal order. Iteration and experimentation is encouraged in order to shape the ‘possible’ or the functionally and technically feasible, and affordability. What it means to the problem solvers

4. Thinking through wicked problems Linear solutions, e.g. "That's a good idea; hold on to that point until later." is a mitigation while divergence and convergence processes are executed Linear gets mixed with IBIS The gap between the linear and orderly progress the project is supposed to be making, and the more iterative and experimental IBIS method closed by declaring the solution if convergence and decision-making does not emerge. Managing to a waterfall timeline is difficult You may have to stop at some point, and declare that "this is the problem we've addressed, and this is our solution." Stake in the ground There will be sudden changes of topic or focus and new insights, Topic changes may not appear to pertain to the problem or the solution, but they deserve a hearing There will be emergence of new pieces of the problem Sudden changes in topic or focus The full range of thinking and creativity that occurs in wicked-problem solving requires keeping any idea that comes up out of sequence Ideas are cataloged What it means to the problem solvers What happens