Complex Problems Require an Entirely Different Approach in Assessment, and Action Nora Bateson

The problems the world is facing now, including ecological damage, natural disasters, poverty, species loss, political upheaval, refugee trauma, and even health epidemics, can all be described as complex, that is, they are born of circumstances that are multi-causal and non-linear.

This complexity vexes the traditional problem-solving model of separating the problems into singularly defined parts and solving for the symptoms.

The very nature of complexity undermines the familiar mandate to define goals and strategies to achieve pre-envisioned, single sector solutions.

None of the issues above can be understood as stand-alone issues.

These issues are wrapped in contextual interdependencies that require an entirely different approach in assessment, and action.

Credit: Nora Bateson

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