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Criterion
Paper illustration of a SWOT matrix with four separated quadrants and marked strategic options.
Business Strategy
SWOT Analysis
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Purposedifferent
SWOT Analysis arranges strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats into a compact picture of the situation. It keeps internal capabilities and external influences separate before strategic options emerge from them.GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing.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 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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
30-60 min1-3 h45-90 min20–45 min
Participantsdifferent
3-122-82-8Small cross-functional group
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
SWOT matrix, Strategic options, Action listGap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk NotesAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanRisk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption log
Tagsno overlap
StrategyAnalysisMarketPositioning
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
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