Thinking Effectuation
Under genuine uncertainty with no reliable forecast, inventory means, cap downside at...
Install
npx skills add tjboudreaux/cc-thinking-skills --skill thinking-effectuation -g -a claude-code -y- Repository
- tjboudreaux/cc-thinking-skills1.7k
- Category
- Engineering
- Updated
- 3mo ago
- License
- MIT
- Context cost
- Lightabout 914 tokens
- Runs scripts
- No, instructions only
What it does
Under genuine uncertainty with no reliable forecast, inventory means, cap downside at affordable loss, act for commitments, and let goals emerge from controllable moves.
Effectuation
Under Knightian uncertainty, start from available means and affordable loss, not a fixed goal and predicted return. Create the path through controllable action and real commitments.
When to Use
- The market, technology, or problem is novel enough that outcome probabilities are not trustworthy.
- Means are clearer than the goal: identity, skills, assets, and network exist before a fixed target does.
- A small action can buy information or a partner commitment without risking ruin.
- Plans keep breaking because the environment shifts faster than forecasts.
When NOT to Use
- The path is predictable: known market, knowable unit economics, established playbook → use causal planning.
- A single wrong step is ruinous or irreversible → de-risk first; do not treat affordable-loss steps as free.
- The goal is already fixed and resources are the only uncertainty → plan to the goal.
- Routine execution with settled requirements → act; do not re-inventory means.
