The method: seven questions in three stages
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ASSURED is seven questions asked in order. Alert, Subject and Scope orient the analyst: what fired, who is involved, and where the lines are. Uncover and Risk investigate: what the evidence says, and how bad it is. The Escalation decision and Documentation resolve the case: close or escalate, and write down what was decided and learned.
New to the method? Read the introduction first, then the chapters in order. Each chapter teaches its phase in pillars, works the same cases through it, and ends with a quiz.
The chapters
- A: AlertWhat fired, and why?
- S: SubjectWho is involved?
- S: ScopeWhere are the lines?
- U: UncoverWhat does the evidence say?
- R: RiskHow bad is it, and how confident are we?
- E: Escalation decisionClose or escalate, and who needs to know?
- D: DocumentationWhat did we decide, and what did we learn?