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Research draft

problem

vr.tr.problem · INF.MED

Let an agent handle problems by domain, definition, causes, options and evidence, and route people facing harm to appropriate help.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems

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

situation

is addressed by - process

problem solving

has - origin

cause

is related to - potential problem

risk

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

hospital housekeepingsweatshopblack companywhite companycultAnt Hill KidsReligious cultquestdaily tasksmain questdaily questquestlineweekly tasksraidkill questCombo questdelivery questgather questescort questSyntax questside questtrade-offutility maximization problemexploration–exploitation dilemmasecurity trade-offEvolutionary trade-offsspace–time tradeoffPatient trade-offcomputer slowdownexploding gradient problemprincipal–agent problemstatistical problemnames for the Korean languageengine knockingpolitical issuemathematical problemresearch priorityresearch problemParent-Child Contact Problemopen problem

+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.

  1. What exactly is the problem, for whom? definition
  2. How is success measured? measurement

Domain

Personal, social, technical.

Domain

Domain.

  1. Which domain does it belong to? definition
  2. Which specific entry fits? action
Analysis Causes.

Causes guide solutions.

Causes

Root causes.

Causes

Causes.

  1. What causes the problem? provenance
  2. What evidence supports that? provenance

Scale

Size and impact.

Scale

Scale.

  1. How large is the problem, and who is affected? measurement
  2. From which data? provenance
Solutions Options.

Options need comparison.

Options

Alternatives.

Options

Options.

  1. What options exist? definition
  2. What are their trade-offs? boundary

Evidence

What works.

Evidence

Evidence.

  1. What evidence shows which options work? provenance
  2. In similar contexts? boundary
Help People affected.

Some problems harm people.

Urgent

Risk of harm.

Urgent

Urgent help.

  1. Is someone at risk of harm and in need of urgent help? boundary
  2. Which services can help? action

Report

Authorities.

Report

Reporting.

  1. Should exploitation or abuse be reported, and to whom? action
  2. 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?