The concept of wicked problems has inspired researchers in a variety of research fields, but it has also led to various discussions on, for instance, conceptual confusion and ways to tackle such complex problems. Many contemporary problems can be characterized as wicked problems: their nature is complex and there is no one best possible way to solve them. During the last decades, many insights have been developed to define characteristics of wicked problems and ways to tackle them. At present, however, (...) we need to examine the actionable knowledge accumulated in the literature to address the challenges that wicked problems create. Given the above, this introductory paper summarizes how wicked problems have evolved, what we have already learnt about them, and what scientific insights are needed to move forward. This systematic review can provide new knowledge that can lead to the development and subsequent evaluation of the wicked problems research area. (shrink)

The purpose of the research is to identify professionally important qualities of the specialists in design, technology, and service, in particular cutters in the postmodern society. At the first stage, a preliminary list of 39 professionally important qualities of the skilled workers in the fashion industry has been formulated by means of theoretical analysis. The list considers the specifics of the cutter`s work at the intersection of three industries – design, technology, and service. At the second stage, a priori ranking (...) of factors has been conducted by interviewing 5 experts. The list, reduced after a priori ranking, has become a basis for surveying 246 respondents from different groups of stakeholders at the third stage. As a result, the lists of input parameters of the model of specialist, which are professionally important qualities of the skilled cutters, are obtained. The lists contain 28 professionally important personal qualities, which are grouped into the following groups: executive and motor manifestations, cognitive processes, memory and thinking, emotions, business qualities, creative features, specific requirements. The obtained results make it possible to develop optimal prognostic models of training the skilled workers in the fashion industry, as well as to conduct a scientifically grounded selection of personnel and career counseling. (shrink)