From humble inquiry to humble intelligence: Confronting wicked problems and augmenting public relations

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis study seeks to upgrade the concept of humble inquiry into humble intelligence (HI) to address a particular set of seemingly intractable challenges known as wicked problems. It locates the concept of wicked problems in the academic literature to underpin its argument that, because of their ubiquity within organizations and across communities, wicked problems have implications for the practice of PR. It suggests that many of PR's functional challenges within organizations can be characterised as "wicked," while the discipline's strategic interests suggest PR has a wider role to play in helping society address other "wicked" dilemmas. Despite these issues and opportunities the article identifies how PR has yet to recognize, let alone engage systematically with the challenges conceptualized as wicked problems. To confront them, the article sets out Schein's notion of humble inquiry and upgrades it to humble intelligence, loosely defined as a cluster of multiple and interacting capabilities that, in concert, forge a form of collective intelligence amongst a wide range of stakeholders. In this coalition, HI can harness the dispersed knowledge that exists in communities and organizations to go beyond traditional, hierarchical, and, often, isolated forms of expertise. This reorientation engages wicked problems productively by deploying multiple perspectives, extending networks, and building the social capital required for collaboration. The article concludes that as well as gaining traction on seemingly intractable challenges, HI both complements and adds value to dialogic theories of PR.

Fostering Dialogic Engagement: Toward an Architecture of Social Media for Social Change

“…HI's [humble intelligence's] focus on network norms associated with dependence on others, curiosity, questioning, and listening cultivate the conditions under which this coherence can emerge through dialogue" (p. 311). We agree with Willis (2016) and apply the conceptual frameworks and assumptions of dialogic engagement to articulate a new social media architecture that may help scholars, designers, social movements, and other groups envision platforms that allow for productive discussions of social issues.…”

“…Facts, data, long-term relationships, social capital, and access to a range of expertise are also needed. Willis (2016) suggests that we "create a sense of coherence amongst the stakeholders involved. HI's [humble intelligence's] focus on network norms associated with dependence on others, curiosity, questioning, and listening cultivate the conditions under which this coherence can emerge through dialogue" (p. 311).…”

The Innovative Problem Solving Strategy as the Model of Teaching Problem Solving

“…Appreciative inquiry is applied in the complex of social problems or building social condition to create creativity of problem solving (Holmberg, 2009in Hansen, 2012. This case is strengthened by the research result of Boser (1993) and Willis (2015) who recommend instructional activity to improve the quality teachers' problem solving.…”

Theories in Public Relations: Reflections and Future Directions

“…The United Nation’s strategic priorities list points out a number of global issues that need great attention, including peace, justice and strong institutions, sustainable cities and communities, and good health and well-being. Many challenges around these ‘wicked problems’ (Willis, 2016) are communicative, related to persuading audiences of both the seriousness of the issues and the viability of proposed solutions. Public relations scholarship could and perhaps should be more prolific in these areas, particularly given that, in practice, it plays a significant role in influencing how these issues pay out (McKie & Munshi, 2007; Valentini, 2019).…”