ABSTRACT
Rittel and Webber coined the concept of 'wicked problems' in 1973. This foreshadowed the more popular notion of 'VUCA' issues and the IBM concept of Cynefin, which have come to the fore in recent times. The term VUCA stands for problems and opportunities that are Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous in nature. The long-term nature of VUCA issues sometimes means that resolution takes place while the issue is still 'moving' and the dynamic volatility of the issue therefore prevents full resolution. It would be tempting to think that doing nothing might be an expedient course of action, and timing is a crucial factor in the resolution of a VUCA problem. VUCA issues have multiple causations rather than single causes and in some cases it might be difficult to identify component causes. VUCA issues are interconnected and interdependent.
