Advancing Social Equity as a “Wicked” Problem

Advancing social equity remains one of the most consequential and challenging responsibilities facing public managers. Drawing on the Rittel-Webber framework of “wicked problems,” Academy Fellow Thomas H. Stanton and Malcolm K. Oliver, Dean of the Watson School for Public Service, will explore why social equity challenges often resist simple or permanent solutions, particularly when stakeholders disagree about both the nature of the problem and the appropriate response. Building on their recent Public Administration Review article, the session will examine practical approaches that can help public managers make meaningful and sustainable progress, including anticipating unintended consequences, engaging diverse stakeholders, building shared understanding, and pursuing systematic incremental action. Participants will also be invited to consider recent examples of progress and discuss how public leaders can navigate competing perspectives, build common ground, and continue advancing social equity in complex public environments.