Resolving complex community problems: Applying collective leadership and Kotter's change model to wicked problems within social system networks

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21399
• Date: 01 March 2020
• Author: Jay L. Caulfield,Elizabeth F. Brenner
• Published date: 01 March 2020

RESEARCH NOTE

Resolving complex community problems:

Applying collective leadership and Kotter's

change model to wicked problems within social

system networks

Jay L. Caulfield | Elizabeth F. Brenner

Department of Management, College of

Business Administration, Marquette

University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Correspondence

Jay L. Caulfield, Department of

Management, College of Business

Administration, Marquette University,

Straz Hall, 219, P.O. Box 1881,

Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881.

Email: jay.caulfield@marquette.edu

Abstract

How does collective leadership within social networks

resolve chronic and complex problems common to

communities? Unfortunately, sometimes it does not,

but when it does, the outcome may be truly extraordi-

nary. We use a case study approach to explain how one

Midwest community within the USA applied collective

leadership within a community network to reduce teen

births. It took ten years of what many identified as pro-

vocative media campaigns and comprehensive sex edu-

cation programs to reduce teen births by 65%,

significantly exceeding the stated goal. Using Kotter's

change model as a backdrop, powerful strategies and

provocative creativity reveal courageous leadership

within a social network of diverse people and organiza-

tions focused on improving the social well being of

their community.

KEYWORDS

collective leadership, change, systems theory and social networks,

teen pregnancy, wicked social and cultural problems

1|INTRODUCTION

In the nonprofit sector, collective leadership is advantageous to resolving complex social and

cultural problems (Grint, 2010; Kolko, 2012; Kotter, 2012; Rittel & Webber, 1973). Brinkerhoff,

Murrieta, and O'Neil (2015, para 1) broadly define collective leadership as “a group of people

Received: 25 April 2019 Revised: 28 November 2019 Accepted: 5 December 2019

DOI: 10.1002/nml.21399

Nonprofit Management and Leadership. 2020;30:509–524. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/nml © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 509

working together toward a shared goal.”Collective leadership views communities as social net-

works where unity of purpose and success are achieved through shared power, trust, inclusivity,

multiple perspectives, and diverse skillsets (Meyer, Gibson, & Ward, 2015; O'Neill & Brinkerhoff,

2018; Stroh, 2015).

Although collective leadership is valuable in resolving complex social problems (Kolko,

2012; Stroh, 2015), there exists a gap in the literature that describes how work gets done, which

may be valuable to others working on similar problems. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative

longitudinal case study taking place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is to explain how collective lead-

ership observed within a social network applied Kotter's change model to resolve a wicked

problem.

Our approach is as follows. We begin by describing the problem of teen pregnancy within

the United States, and specifically to Milwaukee. Next, we provide theoretical support for col-

lective leadership, social systems networks, wicked problems, and change. Our methodology

follows. Then, in our analysis of findings and discussion, we identify lessons learned, future

research and limitations of the work.

2|TEEN PREGNANCY: PROBLEM DEFINITION AND

TRENDS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

According to the American Pregnancy Association (2017), teen pregnancies are those occurring

under the age of 20. For those countries reporting teen pregnancy statistics ages 15–19, the United

States is reported as having the highest rate, numbering 614,000 pregnancies or 57 per 1,000 from

the mid-1990s until 2011 (Guttmacher Institute, 2015; Sedgh, Finer, Bankole, Eilers, & Singh,

2015), indicating the severity of the problem nationwide. Recently the Department of Health and

Human Services (DHHS)(2019) reports a downward trend in rates from years 1990to 2017 attrib-

uted to several factors, including welfare reform, tougher enforcement of child support, and

increases in comprehensive sex education programs (Chamness & Tillett-Zinzow, 2006).

Regardless, the United States continues to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in

the developed world (Guttmacher Institute, 2015). According to researchers (Guttmacher Insti-

tute, 2015; Sedgh et al., 2015), major reasons that rates remain high in the United States relate

to general disapproval of teen sexuality and comprehensive sex education. ‘Abstinence only’is

often the educational norm, which by itself is less effective (Chamness & Tillett-Zinzow, 2006).

A disproportionate share of teen pregnancies occurs in Black and Hispanic youth, leading to a

cycle of poverty among the most disadvantaged and largest ethnic groups within the United

States. Pregnant teens are more likely to drop out of school, use social welfare programs, and

never become employed (Chamness & Tillett-Zinzow, 2006). In 2017, for teens ages 15–19, His-

panics had a birth rate of 28.9 per 1,000 and Blacks had a birth rate of 27.6 per 1,000 while

Whites had a birth rate of 13.4 per 1,000 (DHSS, 2019). Thus, programs that reduce teen births

for Black and Hispanic groups remain attractive within the United States.

3|CASE DESCRIPTION

U.S. Census Bureau (2018) reports the following. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, has

an estimated population of 595,351; 26.2% of its population is under the age of 18. Females com-

prise 51.9% of the city's total population. Predominate race estimates are 45.8% White, 38.9%

510 CAULFIELD AND BRENNER