Base120 · Inversion

Premortem Analysis

IN · Inversion

Assume failure has occurred and work backward to identify causes

Model code
IN2
Transformation
IN (Inversion) — Improve by removing, reversing, or stress-testing assumptions.
Priority
2 of 20
Framework
HUMMBL Base120 — 120 mental models across 6 transformations

When to use

"Use before committing to a plan. Assume the plan has failed at a specific future date, then work backward to identify what caused the failure. Surfaces risks that optimistic planning hides."

Example

"Before launching a new feature, the team assumes it failed 6 months later. Working backward — the failure was caused by integration bugs with the legacy CRM that no one tested because the CRM team was not consulted. Action: involve the CRM team before launch."

Common misuse

"Generating vague failure causes (lack of resources, poor execution) rather than specific, actionable ones. A premortem that produces generic risks is a ritual, not a diagnostic."

Also known as

Pre-mortemProspective Hindsight

Related models

P15IN12IN18