completecontract5

5. PROBLEM STRUCTURING

In the problem structuring phase of the decision support framework, three main steps need to be followed (cf. red boxes in Figure 1 as shown in Figure 2), namely to

define the problem framework;
identify the information requirements; and
identify alternatives, criteria, constraints and stakeholders.

The context in which the DSS has to perform has already been defined as providing a framework to support the CMA in setting up and implementing their CMS. The problem is thus structured around two different dimensions, which are

the planning dimension; and
the implementation dimension.

In providing the problem structure it is necessary to define the problem framework from these two different dimensions. The alternatives, criteria, constraints, stakeholders and information requirements can thus be deduced once the problem framework has been defined.

Figure 2 The problem structuring phase of the decision support framework