Overview
Demonstrate critical awareness of a wicked problem and solutions: research, communicate with and lead a team to identify potential solutions whilst, respecting the beliefs and specialist knowledge of your team.
This postgraduate paper immerses students in wicked problems-complex, real-world issues with no simple solutions. From housing affordability and rapid urban growth to social inequality, environmental degradation and sustainability, students explore challenges that cut across disciplines, cultures and communities.
Working in small interdisciplinary teams, students research, frame and critically analyse a chosen wicked problem. Drawing on design thinking, ethical reasoning and sustainability principles, they develop and evaluate innovative, culturally informed solutions. Shared leadership and collaboration are central, with students rotating leadership roles to strengthen teamwork and collective problem-solving.
Through lectures and practical tutorials, students gain hands-on experience in research, problem framing, critical thinking, communication and leadership.
Ideal for postgraduate students who want to think differently, work collaboratively and design solutions that matter.
About this paper
| Paper title | Solving wicked problems |
|---|---|
| Subject | Science |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | 1st Non standard period (12 October 2026 - 13 December 2026) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $2,324.96 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Eligibility
Open to all postgraduate students.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
This paper combines pre-recorded lectures with in person workshops, where students discuss how the lectures impact the development of their group prototypes, as well as receive feedback on their projects progress.
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Environmental literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
- Research a wicked problem to develop knowledge and critical awareness of the complexity of wicked problems.
- Apply knowledge and skills to generate and critically evaluate potential solutions.
- Apply teamworking and leadership skills to integrate specialist knowledge and skills from different perspectives into a cohesive solution.
- Critically reflect on their solution to the wicked problem and the process of generating the solution.
- Assessment details
- Quizzes and discussion board contributions
- Reflections
- Prototype presentation and proposal
- Peer assessment