Failure Mode Analysis¶

Why It Matters¶

Systems fail in limited ways. Enumeration allows preparation. The goal isn't preventing all failure but preventing catastrophic failure and enabling graceful degradation.

The Key Move¶

For each component and each interaction, ask: how can this fail? What would cause that? What happens downstream? Then assess: which failures are acceptable, which are not, and what safeguards address the unacceptable ones?

Classic Application¶

FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) in engineering. Before building, enumerate failures and design against the important ones.

Surprising Application¶

Life decisions. Before committing to a path, enumerate failure modes. What would cause this to go wrong? What are the consequences? Which failures are recoverable and which aren't?

Failure Modes¶

• Enumerating only obvious failures (the surprising ones hurt most)
• Assuming prevention is always better than recovery planning
• Analysis paralysis (enumerating failures forever instead of deciding)

Go Deeper¶

FMEA methodology. Normal accident theory.