what-if analysis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what-if analysis" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts involving decision-making, forecasting, or risk assessment to explore different scenarios and their potential outcomes. Example: "In our meeting, we conducted a what-if analysis to evaluate the impact of various market conditions on our sales projections."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Low uncertainty, predictive Forecasts, projections What-if analysis; Forecasts, projections.

European Journal of Futures Research

What-if analysis More focused than scenario analysis, usually quantitative.

Forest Ecosystems

What-if analysis; High uncertainty, explorative External Strategic; External.

European Journal of Futures Research

Advanced analytics focuses on gauging the future and allowing what-if analysis.

Business Intelligence Guidebook From Data Integration to Analytics

c) Apply optimisation methods and use sensitivity and what-if analysis to validate the optimal solution.  .

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Sensitivity and what-if analysis is the SOS tool to reach this optimal trade area improvement.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Clicking menu options is all that is needed to perform optimisation, sensitivity, and what-if analysis.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It examines different scenarios using the "What if analysis".

Decision Support Systems

It is generally recognized that the "What If" analysis technique requires a better understanding of the process being reviewed.

Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industries Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium, 19–21 June 2001, Stockholm, Sweden

Figure 4 shows a serious game that enables decision- and policy-makers to perform "what if?" analysis.

Security Informatics

By using the information gathered from a Preliminary Hazard Analysis to generate process-specific or operation-specific questions used in a "What If" analysis, a hazard analysis technique was developed that was simultaneously flexible, versatile, and exhaustive.

Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industries Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium, 19–21 June 2001, Stockholm, Sweden

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "what-if analysis" with visualization tools to effectively communicate complex scenarios and their implications to stakeholders, enhancing understanding and decision-making.

Common error

Avoid creating overly broad "what-if analysis" scenarios that lack specific variables or realistic ranges, as this can lead to vague or impractical conclusions. Ensure each scenario is well-defined and actionable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what-if analysis" functions as a noun phrase often used to describe a method of analyzing potential outcomes by varying assumptions. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

19%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what-if analysis" is a noun phrase used to describe a method for exploring potential outcomes by changing inputs or assumptions. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently used in diverse fields like science, news, and business. It serves to inform decision-making by assessing various possible scenarios. While alternatives such as "scenario planning" and "sensitivity analysis" exist, "what-if analysis" remains a versatile tool for evaluating potential impacts and optimizing strategies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scenario planning

Focuses on developing multiple plausible scenarios to anticipate different future conditions.

sensitivity analysis

Examines how changes in input variables affect the outcome of a model.

impact assessment

Evaluates the potential effects of a proposed action or policy.

predictive modeling

Uses statistical techniques to forecast future events.

contingency planning

Prepares strategies to deal with potential emergencies or unexpected events.

simulation modeling

Involves creating a virtual representation of a system to study its behavior.

risk analysis

Identifies and evaluates potential risks and their consequences.

prospective analysis

Focuses on analyzing future possibilities and trends.

forecasting and simulation

Combines predicting future outcomes with creating models to imitate real-world operations.

policy simulation

Involves modelling the impact of policies before they're implemented

FAQs

How is "what-if analysis" used in decision-making?

"What-if analysis" is used to assess various potential outcomes under different conditions, helping decision-makers understand risks and opportunities associated with each choice.

What is the difference between sensitivity analysis and "what-if analysis"?

Sensitivity analysis examines how changes in input variables affect the outcome of a model, while "what-if analysis" explores various hypothetical scenarios and their potential impacts. "Sensitivity analysis" focuses on input variations, whereas "what-if analysis" considers multiple complete scenarios.

When should I use "what-if analysis"?

Use "what-if analysis" when you need to evaluate the potential impact of different decisions, policies, or events, especially when uncertainty is high and the consequences of various outcomes need careful consideration.

What are some alternatives to "what-if analysis"?

Alternatives include "scenario planning", "contingency planning", and "simulation modeling", each offering a way to explore potential outcomes and inform decision-making in different contexts.