Event tree analysis (ETA) is a forward-looking risk assessment technique that maps the potential consequences of a triggering event by tracing all the possible paths that could follow from it. Borrowed from systems engineering and safety-critical industries, it has found application in service design and UX for mapping failure scenarios, understanding how small errors cascade into serious consequences, and designing resilience into complex systems before they are built.
Event Tree Analysis
Mapping every possible path from a single triggering event
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Designers Academy
1 April 2025 · 4 min read
ResearchMethods
In brief
Event Tree Analysis (ETA) is a forward-looking risk assessment technique that maps all potential consequences of a triggering event by tracing every possible path that could follow from it.
