CATWOE

CATWOE is an acronym for a checklist for problem or goal definition published by Peter Checkland and Jim Scholes ( Soft Systems Methodology in Action , 1990). It does not look at the problem itself, but at the surrounding system. For example, the title of a CATWOE consideration would be “A facility that ...”, “A system that ...” or “A device that is used for ...”.

The steps are processed in this order:

C = Customers	The customers of the system . In this context, the position of users is considered - ultimately who is it, what problem do they currently have and how is it solved, what are their possible reactions, which winners and losers will result?
A = actors	The actors of the system . This affects the people who actually have to carry out the actual activities - what is the impact on them, how will they react if the system is implemented as planned?
T = transformation process	What does the system do, how does it convert input into output, how does it deal with changing input, where does the output go, which stages does it go through, which steps are there within the system?
W = World View	The worldview . Embedding it in a larger context - which real problem should be addressed, which implications result from its introduction, which from its failure or malfunction?
O = Owners	The owners . Consider the position of the persons who have formal power over the introduction or rejection of the system, their motives and participation.
E = environmental constraints	The limits . These can be of an ethical, legal, legal, personal, financial or other nature - how do they affect the system and how can they be overcome?

The advantage of checklists - as a means of structured procedure - is combined with a view that puts the actual question in a larger context. The shortened form is a guide especially for people or groups with practice in the application.