Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning

In this selection the authors argue that as societal problems become more complex and as the pluralism of American society increases, planning as a profession is increasingly challenged and difficult. Rittel and Webber address the issue by exploring the problems in the social professions as associated with goal-formulation, problem definition, and equity issues. These planning challenges are “inherently wicked” and cannot be addressed in the traditional scientific fashion.