Explain Why Consumption Is a Wicked Problem

Explain why consumption is a wicked problem

Explain at least one central tension this complex problem poses for business

Through time our primary identity has changed, in turn changing our views our actions and our awareness of the complex issue associated with consumption. We have developed into an inefficient society that is impacting the earth's ecosystems through natural recourse exploitation, in the course of demand for bigger and better products. Partly Aid by planned obsolesces due to advertising, expectations and demand. However this increasing demand for more efficient product is fuelling an increased risk to our physical, mental and social health, through pollution, chemicals and increased workloads. This complex problem is applying tension to business, in insuring the availability of resources in the future, yet still meeting demand. This consumption problem also impacts business as it applies strain to its reputation.

Society's inability to view the senseless destruction of the Earth's natural resources has developed "a lineal system, on a phonate planet"( Free range studios. (2008). Story of Stuff. [Online Video]. 13 September. Available from: http://www.storyofstuff.com. [Accessed: 19 March 2011].) meaning that the Earth's natural resources are diminishing at a faster rate than they are being replenished. In 2007 it was estimated that one third of the earth's natural resources have been consumed (Free range studios. (2008). Story of Stuff. [Online Video]. 13 September. Available from: http://www.storyofstuff.com. [Accessed: 19 March 2011].). The dire consequence that this is imposing on the earth's ecosystems which is our local environment is all due to the complex issue of over consumption. Our views and values toward product are being influence strongly by advertising media and design. One of the strongest influences of over consumption is the modern design. Designers and product developers initiate designs that will be rendered redundant in a set amount of years. For example Technology displaying this quite vividly through its short 2 year expected life span, the mobile phone.

As members of society we are led to believe that what we have isn't what we can have, and the added versatility of advertising has made consumer targeting much easier "expenditure on online advertisements in Australia grew by 21% year-on-year in 2010"( Budde comm. 2010. Australia - Digital Economy - Advertising, Statistics, Revenues and Forecasts. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.budde.com.au. [Accessed 19 March 11]) further influencing the issue of consumption, yet still failing to notify the consumer of what lies behind the product, such as the extraction, production and disposal which all impact the natural environment through deforestation, chemical runoff, soil contamination and air contamination.

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