Using the Concept of Accommodation to Facilitate Problem-Solution Analysis

Design science often focuses on the problem and solution spaces in artifact creation, yet the alignment between these spaces is seldom explored thoroughly. This paper introduces the concept of “accommodation” to analyse the fit between a problem and its solution. Accommodation highlights the significant semantic and practical implications inherent in the relationship between problem and solution spaces beyond mere knowledge of the two. We define accommodation and demonstrate its utility in evaluating both structural and causal links between solutions and problems. This approach is exemplified through a case study in the healthcare sector.