What-If Scenario Block
Explore hypothetical situations that challenge architecture assumptions. Document triggers, stress points, and possible responses for strategic planning.
What-If scenarios explore hypothetical situations that could challenge the architecture. Unlike failure scenarios that document known failure modes, what-if scenarios test assumptions by exploring possibilities: What if traffic grows 10x? What if a key vendor shuts down? What if regulations change?
When to Use
Block Properties
| Property | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Yes | The scenario being explored |
| Description | Yes | Detailed description of the hypothetical situation |
| Trigger | No | What would cause this scenario to occur |
| Assumptions Changed | No | Array of current assumptions that would be invalidated |
| Constraints Introduced | No | Array of new constraints this scenario would create |
| Stress Points | No | Array of areas where the architecture would struggle |
| Possible Responses | No | Array of options for addressing the scenario |
| Insights | No | What this analysis reveals about the architecture |
| Status | No | Current state: exploratory, analysed, or addressed |
| Notes | No | Additional context or observations |
Status Values
Example: Growth Scenario
Exploring what happens if the platform scales dramatically.
Example: Vendor Scenario
Exploring dependency on a critical vendor.
Example: Regulatory Scenario
Exploring the impact of regulatory change.
Example: Technology Scenario
Exploring a technology shift.