CB.5:1 - Problem frame

Use this pattern when a community has a real question or piece of work that participants could help with, but useful contributions are not yet reaching a recipient who can use or accept them. A support question attracts many replies without a usable answer. Product suggestions accumulate without a response from the product team. A volunteer is asked to maintain a resource without access, criteria or time.

The subject is the arrangement for obtaining a useful contribution from participants and returning its result. Contributions can include advice, practical support, a description of experience, a candidate recommendation, an improved requirement, teaching material or a permissible piece of maintenance work. Their domain methods and receiving responsibilities remain distinct.

First useful result: an agreed contribution reaches its recipient in a usable form, with an understandable acceptance, application, revision or limitation returned to the contributor. An unresolved requirement or unavailable supplier can be the warranted result.

The organiser needs access to the receiving question, relevant participants and the person who can judge or accept the contribution. CB.1 helps decide whether this is a worthwhile community contribution; CB.2 obtains an initial exchange; CB.3/4 support participation and the activity’s form.

Ordinary non-use. If an existing resource or accountable service already supplies the result adequately, use it. If a professional method, mandate or permission is missing, obtain it from the appropriate source. Willing participants cannot make an unsupported technical act fit for use by discussing it.