The Generation of Extension Strategies for “Wicked Problems” —Taking Community Collaboration Problems as an Example

Wicked problems in community collaborative governance, characterized by dynamic complexity and multiple value conflicts, have become critical bottlenecks hindering grassroots governance efficiency. While existing studies have advanced mechanism optimization and technological empowerment, they lack a systematic methodology to deconstruct the core contradictions of wicked problems and dynamically generate innovative, universally applicable solutions. This research introduces the original Chinese theory of Extensics to address this gap. It demonstrates the applicability of Extensics’ formal modeling and extension transformation methods for wicked problems, constructing a generic solution pathway: “problem definition–extension modeling–extension transformation.” The transformation bridge method is employed to systematically handle opposing demands. Using the typical wicked problem of elevator installation in old communities as a case, the study illustrates how extension models and the transformation bridge method convert residents’ conflicting demands into a win-win “observation corridor bridge elevator” solution. A questionnaire experiment with three groups (blank control, conventional method, and Extensics-based intervention) validates the solution’s effectiveness. Results show that the Extensics-based intervention significantly improves residents’ satisfaction. The findings confirm that Extensics provides an operational, inferential, and reusable toolkit for generating strategies to tackle wicked problems in community collaborative governance, offering both theoretical value and practical implications for advancing grassroots governance modernization.