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Criterion
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration of Design Charrette with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Design Charrette
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.In a tightly timed design process with many participants, the method pools several lines of thinking in a short time. It brings parallel design energy without letting the discussion tip into endless coordination. This quickly produces solid directions for architecture or space.For persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMediumLow
Timedifferent
20–45 min45-90 minHalber Tag bis mehrere Tage30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
Small cross-functional group2-810-503-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption logAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanSketches and Concepts, Consolidated Solution Sketch, Prioritized DirectionReverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution Ideas
Tagsno overlap
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
BrainstormingWorkshopCollaborationIdeation
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk
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