The software systems we are building are solutions to business problems. In this con‐ text, the word problem doesn’t resemble a mathematical problem or a riddle that you can solve and be done with. In the context of business domains, “problem” has a broader meaning. A business problem can be challenges associated with optimizing workflows and processes, minimizing manual labor, managing resources, supporting decisions, managing data, and so on.

Business problems appear both at the business domain and subdomain levels. A com‐ pany’s goal is to provide a solution for its customers’ problems. Going back to the FedEx example in Chapter 1, that company’s customers need to ship packages in limi‐ ted time frames, so it optimizes the shipping process.

Subdomains are finer-grained problem domains whose goal is to provide solutions for specific business capabilities. A knowledge management subdomain optimizes the process of storing and retrieving information. A clearing subdomain optimizes the process of executing financial transactions. An accounting subdomain keeps track of the company’s funds.