Problem

Problem:

• a complex theoretical or practical question requiring study and resolution; a contradictory situation manifesting itself as opposing positions in the explanation of certain phenomena, objects, or processes and requiring an adequate theory for its resolution;
• an obstacle on the path to achieving an established goal. A situation is called problematic when activity cannot be carried out using previously adopted methods, and the achievement of the desired result under changed conditions is difficult or impossible;
• a discrepancy between the existing state and the required (target) state of a system under given environmental conditions at a given point in time.

Problem situation:

• a real set of circumstances that someone finds unsatisfactory and wants to change.
• an awareness, arising in the course of practical or theoretical work, that previously acquired knowledge is insufficient, and a resulting need for new knowledge pursued through purposeful inquiry.

One of the central concepts in modern systems analysis is the systemic problem, which refers to problems that share certain identifiable characteristics. While it is impossible to define this concept precisely in a single, exhaustive formulation, one can generalize from scientific research experience to identify the distinguishing features of such problems. These include:

• Lack of structure or poor structuredness.
• Lack of formalization or weak formalization.
• Contradictoriness.
• Uncertainty.
• Ambiguity.
• Informality.
• Complexity.

Characteristics of a problem situation as an obstacle to achieving a goal:

• a high degree of uncertainty (absence or insufficiency of information)
• the presence of obvious or significant contradictions in the description or assessment of the situation
• poor structuredness or a complete lack of structure
• the impossibility of formalization or weak formalization of the problem situation

The concept of problem structuredness, introduced by H. Simon and A. Newell (1958), concerns the balance of quantitative and qualitative, objective and subjective information that describes a given problem.

Well-structured, or well-formalizable, problems admit quantitative formulation; their most essential dependencies are expressed by objective models and represented in symbolic form, where symbols take on numerical values. Unstructured, or non-formalizable, problems have only qualitative, verbal descriptions based on the subjective judgments of individuals, and quantitative relationships among the most important characteristics of the problem are either absent or unknown. Semi-structured, or poorly formalizable, problems occupy an intermediate position: they combine quantitative and qualitative components, but poorly defined and insufficiently understood aspects dominate.

The substantive dynamics of systemic problems can be described only through possible scenarios or variants of how events may develop. This is because there are typically no exhaustive data on three key relationships: (1) the circumstances surrounding the problem; (2) its connections with other problems; and (3) the resources needed to resolve it. It is impossible to foresee all the situations that will be encountered in resolving a systemic problem. The initially visible part of a systemic problem accounts for only a small fraction of the total information needed to resolve it, while the rest remains hidden and emerges only during investigation. Furthermore, systemic problems involve multiple non-obvious methods and approaches for resolution, but the full set of possible options cannot be determined in advance.

Systemic problems affect many scientific disciplines, yet no single discipline can offer effective methods for their holistic resolution. Traditional disciplines deliberately narrow their scope — on the grounds that only in this way can practically significant results be obtained. In contrast, systems analysis requires integrating scientific and practical interests beyond the framework of any single theory, regardless of its predictive power. A systemic problem can be effectively resolved only by assembling a set of scientific methods and knowledge whose complexity matches that of the problem, encompassing the full range of aspects and manifestations of the object under study.

The knowledge and methods of various sciences cannot, on their own, form such a complex because they lack coordination and focused direction. A system-forming mechanism is therefore needed — one capable of managing the individual components, coordinating research outcomes, and concentrating efforts on the most important directions. Systems analysis serves this coordinating and integrating function.

Systemic problems affect many heterogeneous aspects of the substance in which they arise, and these aspects have relationships of mutual influence. Attempts to simplify a problem by excluding so-called "inessential" aspects may lead to errors. At the same time, striving to account for all aspects makes the problem unmanageable and practically unsolvable. In the parameter space of any systemic problem, there exists a region of compromise. Searching for this region is one of the most important pragmatic tasks of systems analysis.