[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing (SAST)

## Details

**Authors** Barabba V, Mitroff I

**Year** 2023

**Publisher** Journal of Systems Thinking 3(1):1-9

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Business & Management

**Reading level** intermediate

**Kind of engagement** scholarly

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.0000016) 
10.54120/jost.0000016

## In authors' words

### Abstract

This chapter describes a particular method—Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing or SAST--for surfacing and critiquing the critical assumptions that underlie all important actions and decisions. It not only describes it via several examples, but outlines the conditions necessary for its successful use.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

A chapter describing Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing — a method for surfacing and critiquing the assumptions underlying important decisions.

### What they found (results)

SAST works when its conditions for successful use are met; the chapter outlines those conditions and illustrates the method through examples.

## Commentary

### In short

Describes Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing, a method for bringing the assumptions behind important decisions into the open and testing them.

### Response

Published in the Handbook of Systems Thinking (Cabrera, Cabrera & Midgley, eds., 2023), a volume built on the premise that systems thinking now has a universal theory—DSRP-484. Its contents were selected on that basis by its editorial team in concert with a team of advisors.

**Patterns it shows** P

## Refers to

- [Handbook of Systems Thinking](https://dsrpevidence.org/element/382)

**How to cite this** Barabba V, Mitroff I (2023). Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing (SAST). Journal of Systems Thinking 3(1):1-9.