David Hancock's book explores alternative approaches to the linear solutions to project risk; one that uses the perspective of 'tame, messy and wicked' problems to categorise risks. Wicked problems (such as those having a community or societal benefit) are those involving a high number of stakeholders and have no optimum solution. Messy problems (e.g. transport networks) are those involving a high number of interconnected systems. Wicked Messes involve both! The solutions require risk managers to identify project stakeholders and seek resolutions between their different perspectives, as much as deliver singular 'best' solutions.

Contents: Preface; Part 1 The Basis for Current Project Risk Methodologies: Introduction; Risk and risk management. Part 2 The Tame, Messy and Wicked Model: Problem types and systems complexity; Problem types and behavioural complexity. Part 3 Strategies for Wicked and Messy Environments: Risk therapy - the talking cure?; Conclusion; Index.

Dr David Hancock is Head of Construction for the UK Cabinet Office. Previously he was Head of Project Risk for London Underground, part of Transport for London. He has run his own consultancy, and was Director of Risk and Assurance for the London Development Agency (LDA) - under both Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson's leadership - with responsibilities for risk management activities and audit for all of the Agency's and its partner's programmes. Prior to this for 6 years he was Executive Director with the Halcrow Group, responsible for establishing and expanding the business consultancy group. He has a wide breadth of knowledge in project management and complex projects developed over more than 20 years and extensive experience in opportunity and risk management, with special regard to people and behavioural aspects. He is a board director with Alarm (The National Forum for Risk Management in the Public Sector), a co-director of the managing partners' forum risk panel, member of the programme committee for the Major Projects Association and a visiting Fellow at Cranfield University in their School of Management.