Base120 · Inversion

Kill-Criteria & Stop Rules

IN · Inversion

Define conditions that trigger project termination before launch

Model code
IN18
Transformation
IN (Inversion) — Improve by removing, reversing, or stress-testing assumptions.
Priority
18 of 20
Framework
HUMMBL Base120 — 120 mental models across 6 transformations

When to use

"Use before launching a project or initiative. Define the conditions that trigger termination — what metrics, what timeline, what signals mean stop. Pre-committed stop rules prevent sunk-cost escalation."

Example

"A pilot AI agent project defines kill criteria — if error rate exceeds 5% after 30 days, if user trust scores drop below 70, if maintenance cost exceeds $10K/month. Any one triggers a review; two trigger termination. Defined before launch, when judgment is clear."

Common misuse

"Setting kill criteria so lenient they never trigger, or so strict they trigger on noise. Criteria must be calibrated to the project's risk tolerance and reviewed after initial data arrives."

Also known as

Kill Switch CriteriaStop-Loss Rules

Related models

IN2IN12IN13