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Criterion
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Paper illustration of a Concept Map with concepts and labelled links
Knowledge Modeling
Concept Mapping
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration for Knowledge Mapping.
Knowledge Modeling
Knowledge Mapping
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.Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly.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.Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
20–45 min1-2 h45-90 min1-3 h
Participantsdifferent
Small cross-functional group1-82-83-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption logConcept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge GapsAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanKnowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan
Tagsno overlap
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
KnowledgeMappingRisk
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