Wicked Problems
A problem that resists resolution due to incomplete, contradictory, and shifting requirements, where solving one aspect may reveal or create other problems.
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
Design theorist Horst Rittel first used the term in a 1967 seminar, then formalized it with urban planner Melvin Webber in their 1973 paper Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning. They argued that social policy problems resist purely scientific approaches because they lack clear definitions and involve conflicting stakeholder perspectives. The word "wicked" denotes resistance to resolution rather than evil.
Updated February 22, 2026