Wicked Software

Key Concepts

The Model

An overarching model for measuring success in applying initiatives to a

The Model is broken into Focus Area Groups. Focus Area Groups are further broken down into Focus Areas, which in turn break down into Initiative Characteristics.

Wicked Problem

Class of problem where interrelation between factors are complex / multi-causal. Example: climate change.

A Wicked Problem has many Initiatives. It is the 'entry point' for a Scorecard, in that all scorecard reporting is constrained in terms of the Wicked Problem it is addressing.

Initiative

An initiative is something happening in the community to address a particular wicked problem. Initiatives have start and end dates.

An Initiative has many associated Organisations. Organisations in turn have many Initiatives.

Initiative Characteristic Checklist

The checklist acts as a map between The Model and Initiatives. It is used to track progress in executing initiatives within Organisations.

Scorecard

The map of effort in relation to stakeholders and their initiatives that address a Wicked Problem in a given place (aka Community).

Scorecards are dynamic objects (i.e. they don't exist in the database) and are effectively a report of progress for a problem's initiatives in a community.

Scorecards allow for drilling down from an overview into specific sections of the problem (e.g. show me the progress per a focus area, initiative, organisation, etc).

Community

An geographical / logical region where wicked problems exist and initiatives are applied.

A Community belongs to an Administrating Organisation.

Organisation

Organisations control the initiatives. An organisation effectively is the executor of an initiative within a Community, but has no other function in the system.

Administrating Organisation

Administrating Organisations are the "customer" in the sense they are the ones paying to have an account within the Wicked Software application.

Administrating Organisation Admin

A user with an Admin role in an Administrating Organisation.

Administrating Organisation Admins set up the Wicked Problem for a Community, identifying the Initiatives, the Organisations and setting up the Initiative Characteristic Checklist

Administrating Organisation User

A user with an base-level role in an Administrating Organisation.

Administrating Organisation User is responsible for checking off items in the Initiative Characteristic Checklist