Ambiguity, bureaucracy and certainty: The ABCs of enabling water self-sufficiency

This thesis of ambiguity as enabler of learning by bureaucrats is tested in the case of water security in Singapore, which faced economic, technology and security ambiguities. There is a bureaucratic tendency to react to ambiguity with a search for more information and clarity. However because of the ambiguity-enabled learning, Singapore through a very roundabout and messy implementation process, was able to overcome a key strategic vulnerability.