Gentrification in the City of Pittsburgh
Mapping a Wicked Problem
Stakeholder Map
Our group began the brainstorm for our wicked problem, gentrification, by first creating a stakeholder map. We placed the stakeholders based on their connection to the city of Pittsburgh (x axis) and the amount of capital they had (y axis). We then drew in relationships the stakeholders have with one another as well as the direction of the money flow.
Wicked Problem Map
Having established some context of the system, we started to brainstorm for the actual wicked problem map. We followed the suggested method, beginning with the five provided categories of main causes for gentrification: infrastructural, political, social, environmental, and economic. From there, main causes were then broken into secondary and even tertiary causes. After a multitude of causes were listed, we were able to connect them to the different consequences of gentrification.
The entire process didn’t become messy until we tried to assemble the entire map. We were particularly stumped when we finally reached the outermost ring of the map, which housed the consequences of the wicked problem. Understandably, multiple causes often led to the same consequence, causing the connection lines to extend far across the map, crisscrossing other elements. It was difficult to grasp the whole picture with all the consequences scattered around the edges of the map. To address this, we experimented with everting (e.g., turning inside-out) the map. The main topic of gentrification remained in the center but all other tiers were everted: this brought all consequences to the innermost tier surrounding the main topic (which is how gentrification is actually observed and experienced: it served as the ultimate consequence) and brought the five main causes to the outermost tier where they label the overall lobes of causal chains. Doing this resulted in a mapping that allows an easier tracing of the causal relationships within the problem set.
Through the mapping exercise, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of gentrification. One of the most important findings we had is that gentrification was not caused by any single force. Instead, it was derived from many issues that are inextricably intertwined.
We noticed that this nested relationship among issues was closely related to the inescapable nature of capitalism. Based on each stakeholder’s interest, money flows from the demander to the supplier, forming an intangible web that eventually benefits the ones who have higher purchasing power.
We also found out that despite the fact that old residents were forced to be displaced due to gentrification, the new residents’ intentions were never even close to such displacement. They were simply interested in the new job opportunities provided by the newly emergent tech hub, and more economical house pricing. Similarly, the government was simply interested in bringing the city back to glory; the new generation in the neighborhood simply wanted a different lifestyle, the new business simply craves for catering new taste and desire. Each stakeholder’s action does not directly relate to gentrification, yet the after-effect of the accumulation of these actions became something unperceivable and devastating.
What’s more horrifying is that gentrification was not the end of this chain reaction. While mapping we realized that gentrification would have an appreciable impact on the physical environment. The rise of tech companies could potentially result in water and air pollution if the companies lacked a sense of environmental responsibility. This connects to another team’s wicked problem of poor water quality. In addition, gentrification could also lead to segregation problem in the area, which could potentially generate ill-will toward newcomers. As a result, crime might be potentially incited, which is yet another wicked problem.
