dissent

Surface contrary evidence and assumptions during major decisions.

3|Updated Jan 27, 2026

Search Tags:#adr #risk-assessment #decision-making #steel-man #team-alignment #dissent #contrary-evidence

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/open-horizon-labs/skills --skill dissent

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: dissent
Source: https://github.com/open-horizon-labs/skills/tree/main/dissent
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/open-horizon-labs/skills --skill dissent

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Dissent helps teams prevent premature consensus by surfacing contrary evidence and challenging assumptions.

Core Features & Use Cases

Steel-Man the current approach: Precisely articulate the position to challenge.
Seek contrary evidence: Identify data gaps, counterarguments, and hidden assumptions.
Pre-Mortem and surface assumptions: Generate failure scenarios and expose underlying premises to test robustness.
Decision framing for ADR: Produce a formal dissent report that informs subsequent decisions.

Quick Start

Initiate a dissent on a major decision to surface counterarguments and strengthen the final path.

Frequently Asked Questions about dissent

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I prevent premature consensus during architecture reviews?▼

To prevent premature consensus during architecture reviews, you must surface contrary evidence and challenge assumptions using structured steel-man techniques. This forces teams to articulate the opposing position precisely before finalizing major technical decisions.

What is the steel-man technique for team decision making?▼

The steel-man technique for team decision making involves precisely articulating the strongest version of the opposing position before seeking contrary evidence. This structured workflow exposes hidden assumptions and data gaps to strengthen strategic pivots.

How do I conduct a pre-mortem analysis for strategic pivots?▼

Conduct a pre-mortem analysis for strategic pivots by generating failure scenarios and exposing underlying premises to test robustness. This structured process identifies contrary evidence and hidden risks before committing to high-stakes changes.

Can I generate a formal dissent report for Architecture Decision Records?▼

Yes, you can generate a formal dissent report for Architecture Decision Records by enforcing a structured workflow with steel-man and contrary evidence steps. This produces a standardized accountability document that informs subsequent decisions.

What is the best way to surface hidden assumptions in risk assessment?▼

The best way to surface hidden assumptions in risk assessment is to apply a devil's advocate workflow that actively seeks contrary evidence. This methodology challenges team alignment and exposes data gaps before decisions are finalized.

When should I not use structured dissent for decision making?▼

You should not use structured dissent for routine or low-stakes decisions, as enforcing a formal devil's advocate workflow with pre-mortems and contrary evidence steps introduces unnecessary overhead. Reserve it for major architecture reviews and strategic pivots.