Why Most Strategies Fail Without RAID Analysis?
In today’s volatile business climate, quality decision-making is everything. RAID Analysis (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) is a structured framework that helps leaders and founders cut through uncertainty and make informed choices.
In the face of collapsing plans, RAID Analysis emerges as the hero that transforms fear into strategic advantage
Consider the story of super forecaster Jean-Pierre Beugoms, known for accurately predicting events like Brexit and Trump’s win. Unlike most, he rethinks assumptions twice as often, checks his biases, and is comfortable being wrong in the short term to be right in the long run. This mindset underpins effective strategy: remember, a strategy is just a theory until reality tests it.
RAID Analysis shines when conditions shift fast. For startups, risks could include funding drying up, valuation compression, or policy changes. Assumptions, like believing investors will keep prioritizing impact startups, must be challenged often. (UNGP Principles 17–20 & GRI 3 – Material Topics). Issues, such as longer funding cycles or investor scrutiny, can derail plans. And dependencies, like relying on a single funding stream, can cripple growth if disrupted.
Applying RAID Analysis is simple but powerful. Use it in strategy debates, periodic reviews, and decision-making. For example, during New Zealand’s recent funding uncertainties, RAID Analysis helped founders map out alternatives like local council grants or tax incentives (ISO 26000 – Adaptive Risk Management).
The key is to ask:
- What are we assuming?
- What risks are evolving?
- Where are we overexposed?
Pausing to identify these factors protects your mission and builds investor confidence, especially as stakeholders increasingly expect transparency and evidence, not just good intentions (GRI 2-23 & ISO 17033 – Ethical Claims).
Ultimately, RAID Analysis isn’t just about risk avoidance, it’s about resilience and resourcefulness. As Singapore's founding story proves, it’s not the lack of resources but how resourceful you are that counts.
If you haven’t yet, try doing a RAID analysis yourself or use a tool like Optomize to guide you step by step. You’ll be surprised how much clarity you gain.
Ready to take your strategy further?
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