What Is a Framework?

Status: Working draft

A framework is a structured knowledge artifact that guides reasoning by defining concepts, relationships, boundaries, and outputs for a class of problems.

A framework should help practitioners think more clearly.

It should not replace judgment.

Operational Criteria

A knowledge artifact is likely a framework if it:

• defines reusable concepts
• guides reasoning or judgment
• applies across multiple cases
• produces structured outputs
• can be used without one specific software tool
• can be evaluated for coherence and usefulness

A knowledge artifact may not be a framework if it is primarily:

• a notation
• a data format
• a protocol
• a reference model
• a classification system
• a software tool
• a compliance standard

Examples

EDF: Framework.

Clarity: Framework.

SWOT: Framework / assessment framework.

BPMN: Notation.

UML: Notation / modeling language.

OSI: Reference model.

TCP/IP: Reference model / protocol suite.

REST: Architectural style.

MVC: Architectural pattern.

ISO 9001: Standard.

Zachman: Taxonomy / architecture classification framework.

MITRE ATT&CK: Knowledge base / ontology-like threat model.

Scrum: Methodology with framework elements.

Kanban: Methodology / flow management framework.