Operational Forensics
Operational Friction Calculator
Are you busy, or are you just moving? Use the sliders to measure the “Friction Tax” your environment charges on your productivity.
Meeting Load — % of week in non decision meetings (0% – 80%)
Approval Layers — Number of signatures required to approve $5,000 (1 – 10+)
Flow State — Can you work 90 minutes without interruption? (Yes / No)
Gauge Chart (Green → Yellow → Red)
DRAG COEFFICIENT: [0.0 – 1.0]
0.0-0.3
Operational. Your environment supports execution.
0.4-0.6
Elevated. Friction is consuming 20-40% of your potential output.
0.7-1.0
Critical. You are spending more energy fighting the system than doing the work.
Project Solvency Triage
Is this project difficult, or is it dead? Input the vital signs to receive an objective solvency diagnosis.
Time since last shipped milestone
1 week / 2-4 weeks / 1-3 months / 3-6 months / 6+ months
Milestone Quality
Code/Product shipped vs. Slide Deck/Meeting held
Sponsorship Structure
Single DRI (Owner) vs. Committee / Co leads
Budget Status
Funded vs. “Pending Approval” vs. Unfunded
Last executive decision on this project
This week / This month / This quarter / Can’t remember
Medical Heart Monitor Visual (Flatline for Zombie)
STATUS: SOLVENT / AT RISK / ZOMBIE (Liquidation Recommended)
SOLVENT
This project has vital signs. Continue.
AT RISK
Warning. Decision debt is accumulating. Escalate within 14 days or move to Icebox.
ZOMBIE
This project is consuming resources but producing no value. Recommended action Red Wedding.
Decision Blocker Identifier
Why can’t they decide? Answer three behavioral questions to identify the specific pathology and receive the negotiation script.
The Version Loop
How many versions of a deck are required before approval?
A: 1-3 (Normal) / B: 4-10 (High) / C: 11+ (Toxic)
The Pre-Meeting Loop
Do you have meetings to prepare for the meeting?
Yes / No
The Reaction to Risk
When you present a solution, what do they ask?
A: “What happens if we don’t do this?” (Action-Oriented)
B: “Who else agrees with this?” (Consensus Hunter)
C: “Can we get more data?” (The Ghost)
D: “Let’s change the strategy completely.” (The Arsonist)
Archetype Card
ARCHETYPE: THE CONSENSUS HUNTER / THE GHOST / THE ARSONIST / THE POLISHER
Includes archetype-specific negotiation script and book chapter reference.
THE CONSENSUS HUNTER
They don’t make decisions. They take polls. Your combination of inputs suggests decisions are being suffocated by alignment loops. The protocol below is designed to shrink the jury.
THE GHOST
They don’t say No. They just disappear. Silence is their superpower. Your protocol makes silence more expensive than commitment.
THE ARSONIST
They don’t block decisions. They blow them up. Each pivot resets the timeline. Your protocol channels the fire instead of extinguishing it.
THE POLISHER
It’s never quite ready. Past a certain point, polishing is procrastination wearing a lab coat. Your protocol defines “done” before starting.
But you may not be the decision-maker. The tools above quantify what you already feel. The Executive Dashboard translates it into the language your CEO needs to hear.
Forward the Executive Dashboard to the person who can act.
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