What-if-analysis is a structured brainstorming technique for hazard identification, in which experienced analysts pose 'what if' questions about potential deviations from normal design or operational parameters and systematically trace each deviation through its possible causes, consequences, and required preventive or mitigating controls. The method persists through standardized question catalogs, trained facilitator practice, and documented study reports. [formal: quid si | substrate: behavior | horizon: hours | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.42]
Accepted ontology entry
what-if-analysis
What-if-analysis is a structured brainstorming technique for hazard identification, in which experienced analysts pose 'what if' questions about potential deviations from normal design or operational parameters and systematically trace eac…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A systematic safety engineering method where analysts ask structured 'what if' questions about deviations from design intent to identify potential hazards, consequences, and necessary safeguards. It is a human-made analytical procedure used in process safety, chemical engineering, and risk assessment — standardized in IEC 61882 and widely taught as a formal methodology.
Names and aliases
- what-if-analysisen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cms8a929t007573fkafm8ap7iSERVES →
what-if-analysis is a structured hazard-identification method built and maintained for the sake of risk-management. Law 8d: for-whose-sake test — the method exists to feed risk assessments with identified hazards and consequences.
- cms9293jz002i7skq3m4d9hr1SERVES →
What-if-analysis is maintained for the sake of safety-management: it systematically explores hypothetical failure scenarios to inform safety decisions and risk controls. The servant (analysis technique) points at the master (management).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 31, 2026, 6:50 AM UTC
- Content hash
- a74191ecb2a59c116ce4fd25a1af30cfbaa3f4897a1e3f399c6f8902d3ae506e