Examining Complex Problem Solving in Communities Through the Lens of Kirton'S Adaption-Innovation Theory

Abstract

The current philosophical paper brings the concepts of community, complex adaptive systems, wicked problems, and Kirton's (2011) adaption-innovation (A-I) theory together as a model to encourage practitioners to recognize the importance of cognitive diversity for sustainable and impactful solutions. Leadership and change practitioners often face the complexity of addressing community based wicked problems. A-I theory offers an additional perspective to help teams foster structural changes in these complex adaptive systems.