Purpose: Structured facilitated session integrating all prior MLP™ steps into a go/no-go design review. Run before any major phase gate. The facilitator must not be the program designer. Outputs: go/no-go recommendation + documented basis.
Facilitator independence is required. A pre-mortem facilitated by the program designer produces social consensus, not honest assessment. The facilitator must be someone who did not design the program — an internal colleague from a different function, an external facilitator, or a senior leader who can create safety for dissenting views.
Session Design
Pre-Work Status All pre-work must be complete before the session. Participants submit individual assumption lists before the group meets.
Pre-Work Item
Status
Notes
Participants reviewed the program design brief individually before session
Individual assumption lists submitted anonymously before group session
Tool 1 (Assumption Excavation Register) is complete — ≥15 assumptions for T3
Tool 2 (Risk Classification) is complete — all assumptions classified
Tool 3 (Disconfirmation Scenarios) — one scenario per high-risk assumption
Tool 4 (Evidence Gathering) — evidence collected for all High × High and High × Med
Tool 5 (Design Adjustments) — all 'Likely false' assumptions have design adjustments
Tool 6 (Residual Monitor) — all load-bearing residuals have named owners and signposts
Session Findings
Go / No-Go Recommendation
GO — criteriaAll high-risk assumptions tested or have monitoring infrastructure; all failed assumptions have documented design adjustments; no load-bearing residuals without named owners; psychological safety sufficient for honest assessment
GO WITH CONDITIONS — criteriaMinor residuals remain; specific conditions documented; re-review scheduled before [date]
NO-GO — criteriaLoad-bearing high-risk assumptions untested with no monitoring plan; design adjustments not made for failed assumptions; fundamental premise of program is unvalidated; psychological safety failed (honest assessment not possible)