problem-framing

To turn vague requirements into clear problem statements, the skill restates the request in plain language, prompts for confirmation, asks targeted clarifying questions to uncover constraints, surfaces hidden assumptions, and proposes a final single-sentence problem statement for approval.

Problem framing is the process of translating ambiguous goals into confirmable problem statements. You should clarify user intent when a request lacks context, suggests premature solutions, or has multiple plausible interpretations with different required efforts and outcomes.

To surface hidden assumptions in decision support requests, identify who the user is, what they want to accomplish, and what is blocking them today. Then, offer 2–3 alternative framings for selection when multiple interpretations fit the initial request.

Yes, you can use clarifying questions to resolve multiple plausible interpretations by prompting the user to select among 2–3 alternative framings. This ensures the correct root cause is addressed and the expected outcome is agreed upon before proceeding.

A key limitation of automated problem framing is that it requires active user confirmation at multiple stages. It cannot independently finalize a problem statement or proceed without the user explicitly selecting an interpretation and approving the final framing.