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Although the terms “complicated” and “complex” may seem interchangeable, they are not. Is a social problem complicated or complex? The answer to this will determine how best to approach it.

What is a Complicated Problem?

A complicated problem is one that seems really difficult and requires a gazillion steps to solve. Yet, once you figure out the steps, you can replicate the solution. A common example of a complicated problem is sending a human to the moon.

Getting a human to the moon is a complicated problem, because it requires the execution of many steps in a specific order. Yet, it is a solvable riddle. Once you develop the expertise and know the steps, you have solved the problem.

What is a Complex Problem?

A complex problem does not have a solution because it has so many moving parts. Experts, such as Brenda Zimmerman, use raising a child as an example of a complex problem. Each child, parent, environment and circumstance is so different that what works in some cases fails miserably in others. There is no one solution, no matter your level of expertise.

Why is this Important?

Contrary to what some politicians would have us believe, many of the social problems that plague us today are complex. Think of things like poverty, immigration, violence, climate change or education. The number, and variety, of interacting stakeholders and circumstances make these problems an on-going struggle with no simple answer. Thus, they require that many diverse people collaborate to co-create innovative approaches.

We must work together to tackle complex problems, with open minds and open hearts. If you think you have THE answer, know that you are wrong. None of us have the answer, because there is no answer!

In this era of entrenchment and philosophical silos, we must acknowledge a an uncomfortable truth. When it comes to complex social problems, we need to focus on collective progress instead of heroic solutions.

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