problem
Let an agent handle problems by domain, definition, causes, options and evidence, and route people facing harm to appropriate help.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle problems by domain, definition, causes, options and evidence, and route people facing harm to appropriate help.
A situation or matter regarded as unwelcome, harmful or needing to be dealt with and overcome, from everyday problems to social problems such as exploitative labour; in mathematics and logic, a question to be solved.
What it is for: Framing what needs to be solved.
It can be define the problem clearly; analyse causes; generate and compare solutions; seek help for serious personal or social problems.
Distinguishing features
Gap between current and desired state
Personal, social, technical or formal
Framing shapes solutions
Some problems involve harm to people
What it looks like
Not an object; a situation needing resolution.
How it is recognised
Problem statements
Social problems such as sweatshops or coercive groups
Mathematical problems have formal statements
Related models
is a kind of - category
is addressed by - process
has - origin
is related to - potential problem
In practice
Families and kinds
personal problems
social problems
technical and engineering problems
mathematical and logic problems
organisational problems
Standards and regulation
Problem management practices such as ITIL
Labour and consumer protection law for social problems
Failure modes and hazards
Solving the wrong problem
Blaming individuals for system problems
Missing people who need urgent help
Also called
+396
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.problem-communication
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Definition What the problem is.
Framing matters.
Statement
Clear framing.
Statement
Problem statement.
- What exactly is the problem, for whom? definition
- How is success measured? measurement
Domain
Personal, social, technical.
Domain
Domain.
- Which domain does it belong to? definition
- Which specific entry fits? action
Analysis Causes.
Causes guide solutions.
Causes
Root causes.
Causes
Causes.
- What causes the problem? provenance
- What evidence supports that? provenance
Scale
Size and impact.
Scale
Scale.
- How large is the problem, and who is affected? measurement
- From which data? provenance
Solutions Options.
Options need comparison.
Options
Alternatives.
Options
Options.
- What options exist? definition
- What are their trade-offs? boundary
Evidence
What works.
Evidence
Evidence.
- What evidence shows which options work? provenance
- In similar contexts? boundary
Help People affected.
Some problems harm people.
Urgent
Risk of harm.
Urgent
Urgent help.
- Is someone at risk of harm and in need of urgent help? boundary
- Which services can help? action
Report
Authorities.
Report
Reporting.
- Should exploitation or abuse be reported, and to whom? action
- Is anonymous reporting possible? definition
What the second pass must settle
- Should social problems be separate entries?
- How should mathematical problems be split off?
- Registry aliases list specific social issues; how should they be linked?