---
id: "action-conduct-stress-test"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ Identify the Risks of Decisions-as-Usual"]
tags: ["risk-assessment", "workshops"]
related: ["framework-five-year-stress-test", "concept-focal-employees"]
action: "Run a workshop with focal employees to project the 5-year risks of your current decision-making model."
outcome: "Identifies specific operational risks and areas where structured empowerment should replace pure centralization/decentralization."
speakers: ["Tatiana Sandino"]
sources: ["tail1"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail1"
originDay: 1
articleStem: "hbr-tail-105-fast-growing-better-decisions"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/05/how-fast-growing-companies-can-make-better-decisions"
sourceTitle: "How Fast-Growing Companies Can Make Better Decisions"
---
# Conduct a Five-Year Stress Test

**Action.** Run a workshop with focal employees to project the 5-year risks of your current decision-making model.

**How.** Gather a multidisciplinary group of **10–12 people** (including **3–4 [[concept-focal-employees|focal employees]]**) to project and surface the risks of continuing your current decision-making approach over the next five years. Full protocol: [[framework-five-year-stress-test]].

**Outcome.** Identifies specific operational risks and the areas where [[concept-structured-empowerment]] should replace pure centralization or decentralization.