An Example of Domain Decomposition through Application of the Problem Frames Approach to a Complex Problem

It is critical to decompose problem context of real world problems in order to understand requirements and specifications for IT systems. However, this is far from trivial. In this paper, we present an example problem domain contextual decomposition that provides a means of ensuring high-level requirements, such as business requirements, are met by lower-level requirements that are closer to the software to be delivered. We use Jackson’s Problem Frames approach to describe organisational context, and apply Architectural Frames (AFrames) to simultaneously decompose and simplify the problem context and hence requirements. Through AFrame application, and problem decomposition and projection, we show how socio-technical elements can also be described in our solution. We validate our approach through a case study taken from the literature of Seven-Eleven Japan.