Mission and Background

Systems Synthesis is the second-year capstone project for students in the Heinz School's MSPPM and MAM programs. Groups of 10 to 12 students and a faculty advisor address a public interest problem of local, national or international importance. Students develop an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the problem and structuring systematic solutions. Their efforts are both guided and challenged by advisory boards of professionals in the field. Often, members of these advisory boards represent organizations with well-defined stakes in the outcome of the project. This interaction provides experience with the forces that determine the outcome of policy analysis and problem management.

This project grows out of local and national interest in brain drain issues and the factors which shape the location choices of talented young people and knowledge workers more generally.  Jobs are still important, but so is participating in a "thick labor market" with lots of opportunity and being in a place which offers a lifestyle package -that is outdoorsy, funky, diverse, young and hip. This really changes the game of economic development as cities and regions as well as companies have to gear up to compete for talent - not just companies. This is a wide open field, in which lots of people are interested and where there is not a lot of knowledge.

The project will focus on identifying the factors associated with how both innovative companies and innovative places both attract and retain highly motivated, innovative and talented people. It will involve research and benchmarking of leading firms and regions nationally, comparative benchmarking of other university neighborhoods nationwide, interviews, focus groups and possible student surveys.

The project will use this data to develop a strategy and design for implementing a strategy in the greater Pittsburgh area - focusing on the Oakland-tech center-downtown corridor as the center of the new economy.

There is great interest in this project from local foundations, the new county executive and his New Idea Factory, the mayor's office, economic development agencies, arts and cultural organizations, and leading high-tech companies.

The project will also involve briefing private sector and policy groups - who are interested in these issues - on a regular basis on issues related to how and why young people choose places to live and work and related recruiting and marketing issues.

The project will be designed to have impact on the evolving debate on the role of talent and lifestyle in the new economy.

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