Tool 26 of 32 · a few minutes
Contradiction Gate
Finds goal pairs that quietly cancel each other before they become one uncontrolled experiment.
In Plan, on every pair of goals that will run at the same time, inside the sequencing work.
What it is for
To find goal pairs whose interaction cannot be measured, so they get sequenced instead of run as one uncontrolled experiment.
The failure it catches
Growth work that adds friction for existing users. Retention work that repels new signups. Run in parallel without the ability to tell which effort moved which number, two such goals are not two initiatives. They are one uncontrolled experiment.
Why it works
Two questions, could work on A plausibly move B's numbers, and if yes do we have measurement that would attribute the movement, catch the pair before urgency funds it. Urgency is how the uncontrolled experiment gets paid for.
How to run it
- For every pair of goals that will run at the same time, ask two questions.
- Could work on the first plausibly move the second's numbers. Write one sentence of actual mechanism, not a vibe.
- If yes, do we have measurement in place that would tell us which effort caused which movement.
- A yes followed by a no means the pair gets sequenced, not run in parallel. Urgency is not an exception.
How to read the result
Yes then no equals sequence them, do not parallel them. No exceptions for both are urgent. This gates pairs of goals, not pairs of tasks.
How to run it well
- Plausibly move needs one sentence of actual mechanism, not a hunch.
- Apply it to objective pairs, not to every trivial task pair.
Where it breaks
- This gates pairs of goals, not pairs of tasks, or it becomes red tape.
- Could plausibly move needs one sentence of actual mechanism, not a vibe.
What would prove it wrong
A yes-then-no pair run in parallel anyway that produces cleanly attributable results would show the gate over-blocks.
What we watch
Whether sequenced pairs stop unattributable movement, or whether we sequence pairs that would have been readable in parallel.
Ask yourself
- Could work on goal A plausibly move goal B's numbers, and can you say how in one sentence?
- If yes, do you have measurement that would tell you which effort caused which movement?
- Are two urgent goals currently running in parallel with no way to attribute results?
- Is this a pair of goals, or have you started gating pairs of tasks?
Fed by: Gate-First Sequencing
Feeds: Gate-First Sequencing