Problem complexity and the formulation process in planning and design

The importance of problem formulation in planning and design is well documented: Errors of the Third Kind (solving the wrong problem or a suboptimal problem) produce underdesign and system failure. This paper explores the role of problem statements in the formulation process. Using Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety as a basis, the quantitative and qualitative features of problem statements are linked to the complexity of a problematic situation. Six propositions are offered for future study.