problem-reformulation

name	problem-reformulation
description	Problem Reformulation Campaign — question the problem itself. Escape dominant ideas, reframe from multiple perspectives, apply dialectical inquiry, assess wickedness, discover appreciative alternatives. 5 strategies, 3 tactics, 10 subagent SOPs.
execution	campaign
dependencies	{"strategies":["appreciative-reframing","dialectical-reformulation","dominant-idea-escape","multi-perspective-reframing","wickedness-assessment"],"sops":["context-checkpoint","context-init"]}

Problem Reformulation

Question the problem itself — are we solving the right problem?

Strategy Routing

Signal	Strategy
Dominant idea, paradigm lock-in, lateral thinking, escape	→ dominant-idea-escape
Multiple perspectives, CATWOE, reframing matrix, Rich Pictures	→ multi-perspective-reframing
Double-loop learning, governing variables, dialectical inquiry	→ dialectical-reformulation
Wicked problems, Rittel's criteria, complexity, Cynefin	→ wickedness-assessment
Positive deviance, Appreciative Inquiry, asset-based perspective	→ appreciative-reframing

Available Tactics

lateral-escape, multi-worldview-comparison, dialectical-escalation

Available SOPs

Import: web-search, web-research, paper-overview, paper-search, paper-research Subagent: dominant-idea-identification, provocation-generation, consequence-following, catwoe-analysis, reframing-matrix, governing-variable-surfacing, counter-assumption-generation, wickedness-scoring, appreciative-discovery, reformulation-synthesis Shared: assumption-surfacing, multi-stakeholder-simulation

Available Strategies

Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.

Strategy	When to use
appreciative-reframing	Find positive deviants and reframe the problem from deficit-based to asset-based using Appreciative Inquiry.
dialectical-reformulation	Surface Argyris governing variables and test whether the problem dissolves under alternative governing variables (double-loop learning).
dominant-idea-escape	Identify dominant paradigms constraining the field and use de Bono lateral thinking provocations to escape them.
multi-perspective-reframing	Apply CATWOE from multiple stakeholder viewpoints and reframing matrix to reveal aspects invisible from the dominant perspective.
wickedness-assessment	Apply Rittel's 10 criteria to determine if the problem is tame, complex, or wicked, and adjust research strategy accordingly.

Available SOPs

Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.

SOP	When to use
context-checkpoint	Append research process and results to the current Phase's context file. Each append MUST contain >=500 lines of markdown covering both process and results. Use this skill at plan-designated checkpoint points — typically after each strategy completes or at key decision nodes within a research Phase.
context-init	Create a new context file for a research Phase. Called once at Phase start to initialize the file that subsequent context-checkpoint calls will append to. Use this skill whenever a new research Phase begins and a fresh context file is needed.