The bullet proofing technique aims to identify the
areas in which your plan might be especially vulnerable:
- What may possibly go wrong?
- What are some of the difficulties that could occur?
- What’s the worst imaginable thing that could occur?
There are some similarities with Potential
– Problem Analysis (PPA) (Kepner and Tregoe), Negative
Brainstorming (Isaksen and Treffinger, 1985) who suggest that ‘What
might happen if…?’ is a useful question to use for looking
at potential challenges.
- Brainstorm around enquiries such as: ‘What might happen
if…?’ to identify the areas in your plan of action that
could potentially cause problems and which have not yet been identified.
- All the areas identified should be placed on a table such as
the one below, showing how likely the event is to occur and if it
did occur, how serious it would be for your plan.
- Major problems that are very likely to happen. If there are significant
numbers, you may first need to priorities them so that you can focus
your effort on the most important.
- Use any suitable problem-solving method to work out ways to dealing
with them.
| |
How likely is it to occur |
| Unlikely |
Very likely |
If it did
occur, it
would be: |
Major Problem |
|
Most Serious |
| Minor Problem |
Least serious |
|
Although this type of exercise is necessary, it can
have the effect of lower your spirits, looking on the ‘black side’.
Should this be the case and you feel in the need for some cheering up
try using the same technique in reverse:
- What could go well?
- What pleasant surprises might it deliver?
- What is the best thing that could happen?
Obviously these uplifting enquiries should be reasonably
plausible – a collection of good things that really might happen!
[Source:
www.mycoted.com ]
