Abstract
An approach to problem analysis is described, based on the notion of a problem frame. Problem frames are intended to capture classes of recognisable and soluble problems. Because problems are located in the environment, not in the machine to be built, problem frames are characterised by environment properties and structures. Useful frames are necessarily very narrow: realistic problems are regarded as parallel superimpositions of subproblems. Problem complexity arises from the interactions of these subproblems and of their solutions.