Wicked water – teaching wicked problems in water resource management

Mapped principles 

The project is mapped to the following framework principles:

P2. Ability to handle wicked problems for a sustainable societal development

P3. Active student-centred learning 

P4. Assessment and examination for learning  

P5. Available experimental environments  

Definitions of the principles   

Contact 

Massoud Behboudian researcher

massoudb@kth.se

Profile

Project number 

This project is implemented at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) within the Future Education programme (project no. 2606-ABE) 

Project context 

KTH engineers are technically well-educated but often lack training in handling wicked problems – situations where there is no optimal solution, only trade-offs between different stakeholders. Courses often focus on "optimal solutions", but today many problems have no optimum. A shift is needed from "find the right answer" to "manage trade-offs". 

Although there is a solid academic base at KTH as to research within the areas of wicked problems, game theory, and multi-criteria decision analysis, there is no shared evidence-based pedagogical model for teaching wicked problems in engineering education at KTH.  

Such a model is needed, preferably applicable at several schools. Ideally, the model is not only conceptual but implemented via (re)usable learning modules.  

Purpose (outcome) 

The purpose of the project is to develop and disseminate an implemented and pilot-tested scalable, evidence-based pedagogical model for teaching wicked problems in engineering education at KTH, in particular for teaching stakeholder conflicts with AI-supported trade-off analysis. 

The model combines wicked problems and MCDM*/AI-supported negotiation tools, consists of a permanent, reusable OER module package and is designed for scalability to ITM and CBH from day one. 

^{* Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis}

Read more on outcome goals and their measurability in the project directive below.

Project results (output) 

The project will deliver the following concrete results: 

• Module 1 (full package): Wicked Problem ID (AL2511): case study, stakeholder map, facilitator guide, rubric – Simplified version 
• Module 2 (full package): Game Theory/Negotiation (AL2511): role cards, payoff matrix, negotiation worksheet, reflection prompts, teacher guide, rubric – Simplified version 
• Module 3 (prototype): MCDA + AI Tool (AL2511): Excel tool, user guide, pilot report – Basic prototype 
• OER package v1.0 (simplified) 
• Final report.

Time plan 

Start date: 2026-06-01
End date: 2026-10-31 

Project documentation 

If you have a KTH ID, you can read the documents when logged in:

• Poster: The project’s first poster (in Swedish) will be available at the ”Storträffen” meetup autumn 2026
• Project directive (mostly English): Projektdirektiv_FrU26_2606-ABE_WickedWater.pdf