Library / Problem Structuring and Decision Support Principles Framework
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Source changed 2026-10-03 14:36:52 UTC · snapshot created 2026-10-03 14:38:14 UTC · last check 2026-10-03 14:55:10 UTC

Compose the bounded recommendation

Use PSD.13 to return what the recipient can responsibly consider now. The following development-direction returns are alternative result branches, not a sequence.

ReturnWhen it is usefulContent that makes it more than a label
Retained or ranked setSeveral directions remain live and the current scheme supports their trade-offs, partial order or order.The returned set and the comparison scheme, what preserves each direction, what remains unresolved and what could warrant narrowing.
Supported directionQualified premises justify preferring one direction for the named holder, use and horizon.Its comparative advantage, the disposition of serious rivals, material limits and reversal conditions.
Bounded information-gaining probeA specified uncertainty could reverse advice and the supplied probe basis supports proportionate information gain.Question, possible distinguishing observations, exposure, feasibility, protected conditions and stop; choice and execution remain separate.
Smallest-result request or handoffA supplying practice can provide a missing premise whose obtainable contribution warrants its whole acquisition burden for this advice.The bounded result, subject, configuration and window, affected claim, and what would let advice resume; a useful answer can instead finish with its present limit.
BlockerA missing, stale, inapplicable or unauthorized premise prevents the requested responsible recommendation.What is missing, which stronger conclusion is blocked and which independent content remains usable.
AbstentionThe requested recommendation premise fails or the service cannot responsibly supply that kind of advice.The failed premise and appropriate receiving account or referral, without an invented adverse factual judgment about the holder.

A mixed return can retain two directions and block a complete ranking, adding a third direction’s premise request only when its contribution warrants acquisition. Keep the scopes explicit; do not report mutually inconsistent overall statuses.

For this profile, the recommendation account makes seven things recoverable:

  • the recommending performer, recipient, developing holder, question, horizon, choice owner and intended next use;
  • the actual candidate domain, compared subset, exclusions and candidate gaps;
  • each relied-on specialist result and relevant source edition, configuration, window and reliance limit;
  • the declared comparison scheme, material trade-offs, protected conditions and inference to the return;
  • uncertainty, dissent, evidence losses and unsupported extensions that can alter reliance;
  • the supported disposition and the next consideration, request, reroute or separately governed choice;
  • the observation or change in a source, configuration, authority, horizon or policy that would reopen a named claim.

This is content, not a mandatory form. A small blocker needs only the positions that explain its missing premise and receiving use. A consequential positive recommendation may need a protected annex and a fuller claim-to-premise account.

Keep each claim inside the narrowest material limit of the premises on which that claim depends. If evaluation covers configuration A, advice about B remains unsupported. If the internal-development comparison does not depend on that evaluation, it can remain usable. A shared bibliography is neither a dependence relation nor a reason to invalidate everything together.