BUS 241 - Wicked Problems

Credits: 4
Planned Offering: Spring 2013 and alternate years

Prerequisite: Sophomore or juniors standing, from any major. Does not meet major requirements. Most of the world’s most vexing challenges (e.g., hunger, disease, poverty, energy shortages) are more than just big problems – these are, in fact, truly wicked problems. In 1973, Rittel & Weber outlined the characteristics of these wicked problems, the solutions to which required methods beyond those ascribed to traditional problem solving. The course has been developed to help students learn to (1) identify, understand, and address the characteristics of wicked problems, by (2) applying entrepreneurial methods to start and/or manage an organization designed to dissolve these sorts of problems. Simply put, the purpose of this course is to find a few ways and a few people willing to change the world. Touve.