This activity challenges students to work in teams to unravel an apparently unsolvable sustainability problem. By making its complexity visible and breaking the problem down into parts, students experience what it means to work with complexity and systems thinking.
- Activity goal
- Brainstorm | Practice skills
- When
- In class
- Where
- Offline
- Duration
- < 60 minutes| > 60 minutes
- Group size
- Small | Medium
- Materials
Whiteboard / post-its / markers / Visualization-tools
Step-by-Step
Step 1
Introduction: Explain that students will be working on a complex sustainability issue, also called a wicked problem. These are problems without simple solutions, with conflicting interests and shifting conditions. Emphasize that in this activity the focus is on unpacking the complexity of the problem—not (yet) on generating solutions.
Step 2
The challenge: Present the problem orally or on paper. Try to frame it as an open breakthrough question, for example starting with “How can we… ?” The problem should appear solvable at first, but in practice be frustratingly complex—that tension is the heart of the learning process.
You can have all groups work on the same problem, which makes it easier to compare perspectives and highlight different angles of complexity.
Step 3
Break it down: Have students deconstruct the problem in small groups. Provide examples of what they can map out, as well as tools they might use to uncover subcomponents and relationships between factors.
Examples of what students can map:
- Subproblems
- Stakeholders
- Interrelated causes
- Possible scenarios and solution pathways
- Areas where they do already have influence
Possible tools:
- Sticky notes
- Flowcharts
- System maps
- Mind maps
Halfway through this step, instruct each group to send a spy to another group. The spy observes how the other team is approaching the problem and brings insights back to their own group.
Step 4
Debrief: Discuss how students experienced the process of mapping complexity. What surprised them? What helped in unraveling the problem? What was difficult?
This activity can conclude here—simply unpacking the complexity of a wicked problem is already a valuable outcome. Alternatively, you may invite groups to choose one hypothesis or direction for a potential solution. In that case, have them wrap up by formulating a clear problem definition or breakthrough question (“How can we… ?”). For follow-up activities to explore creative solutions, see the Creativity Toolbox method.
Tip 1
Use AI or ChatGPT to quickly generate a wicked problem tailored to your course.
Tip 2
Give the task a realistic context: “Imagine you work for the city council…” or “You are a team of consultants…”
Tip 3
Increase difficulty by deliberately withholding some information. Students can then formulate extra questions to clarify the problem.
Whiteboard / sticky notes / markers
Visualization tools (e.g., Miro or Canva)
Consider the tools and materials mentioned here as suggestions. In many cases it’s possible to use alternative tools. Please turn to the Learning & Innovation team of your faculty first to see which online and offline tools are available and how to apply them.
Always use (generative) AI tools that are GDPR-compliant. Refer to the usage guidelines for Generative AI and the theme page about AI in education as well.
