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Criterion
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration for ALPEN Method
Operations
ALPEN Method
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.For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability.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.With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighLowLow
Timedifferent
20–45 min2-6 h45-90 min10-20 min daily
Participantsdifferent
Small cross-functional group3-102-81
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Risk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption logFMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation ActionsAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanDaily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes
Tagsno overlap
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations
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