Project description

A company's success depends heavily on its ability to align with its environment (Porter, 1980). We all know the world is becoming increasingly complex. Sustainable entrepreneurship, the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in businesses and organizations, and new economic movements like the sharing economy, the circular economy, and the commons are gaining importance and are high on the political agenda, but these are complex challenges. What the average entrepreneur or business is generally unaware of is that complex challenges and a complex context require a specific perspective and a different approach than we find in economics textbooks. We see that policy and entrepreneurship remain stuck in classic linear problem-solving, which means that complex (wicked) problems are not recognized, let alone addressed. Complex challenges, after all, require a non-linear approach and demand a step back and a rethink of our way of thinking.

Many argue that the barrier to implementation is no longer a lack of knowledge, but rather a consequence of the inability to act on that knowledge (Chapman, 2016). Consequently, individuals and institutions seeking to address complex challenges need to (i) learn to appreciate the complexity of the world, (ii) learn to recognize complexity, and (iii) learn to manage complexity.

The practice-oriented research project "wicked architects" aims to strengthen entrepreneurship in Flanders by gathering knowledge, experience, and excellent examples of complex business practices on a single platform. A platform where every enterprising spirit can find information and inspiration.

https://www.wicked-architects.be/

grete.gysen@ucll.be

lotte.ovaere@ucll.be

veronique.debeys@ucll.be

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