Creative Generation of Multiple Perspectives: Application to the Problem of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades

Many IS/DSS development methods advocate the inclusion of multiple perspectives during systems design activities to deal with problems more holistically. Yet, few techniques exist for generating these perspectives. This paper proposes a method for creative generation of multiple perspectives to aid designing systems for dealing with wicked problems involving multiple stakeholders. We illustrate the technique by applying it to the problem of Burmese pythons that originally were pets but were released into Florida's Everglades. Burmese pythons have become a popular pet in many parts of the United States. When small, they are easily fed and cared for. But as they grow, reaching over 20 feet in length, growing in excess of 200 pounds, and producing as much excrement as a horse, they become much more difficult to house. Many are released into the wild. It is estimated that 30,000 pythons now inhabit the Florida Everglades. As conditions become more crowded, the reptiles are increasingly headed across the lower one-third of the U.S., which is python-friendly habitat. No one knows what might happen next...