Inadequate research on proposed solutions to problems

Projects intended to alleviate problems, such as those associated with underdevelopment, are not always sufficiently well researched and designed to meet the conditions required by the institutions financing the remedial enterprises. Market studies, estimates of effectiveness, profitability calculations, estimates of the skills or the amount of investment actually required, and estimates of raw material needs and prices, are sometimes superficial. Furthermore, the technological processes and production capacities designated are generally not optimum. There is a lack of awareness of the need for good studies and an unwillingness to fund such studies adequately, although they are essential to avoid poor-risk investments.

1. Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple. (Bill Mollison)

1. There will never be enough researchers or funds to adequately predict the effects of solutions proposed for problems.

1. Inadequate response to societal needs
2. Imbalanced research activity
3. General obstacles to problem alleviation

1. Over-emphasis on immediate solutions in resource development research
2. Inadequate social innovation
3. Excessive reliance on fashionable solutions to problems

1. Unstrategic funding requests
2. Unsolved social problems
3. Unreliability of equipment and machinery
4. Simplistic technical solutions to complex environmental problems
5. Long-term changes in atmospheric chemistry
6. Inadequate models of socio-economic development
7. Inadequate delivery mechanism in response to problems
8. Inadequate data

1. Restriction of funding for research on social problems
2. Misappropriation of resources for high cost civil engineering projects
3. Minimization of problems
4. Irrelevant scientific activity
5. Institutional preoccupation with obsolete problems
6. Inappropriate institutionalized reward systems
7. Inadequate power of intergovernmental organizations
8. Inadequate information systems for international governmental decision-making processes
9. Fixation on partial solutions to problems
10. Deficiency in innovation in the public sector
11. Commercialization of research

1. Underutilization of intellectual ability
2. Opportunist bias in public discussion and research on development

1. Updating programmes against social problems
2. Researching world problems
3. Researching role of non-governmental organizations in international environmental governance
4. Providing well-researched projects to alleviate problems
5. Providing source of wisdom for solutions
6. Promoting social innovation
7. Improving programmes
8. Developing creative strategies against problems
9. Abstaining from well-researched projects to alleviate problems

1. Obsolescence
2. Uncreative
3. Inadequacy
4. Problem
5. Lack