Agent Skills: Constructive Dissent Skill

Constructive Dissent Skill

Systematically challenge proposals through structured dissent protocols that expose weaknesses, test assumptions, and generate superior alternatives.

When to Use This Skill

• Before finalizing major decisions
• Testing proposals for weaknesses
• Generating alternative approaches
• Assumption auditing
• Stress-testing architectural decisions
• Evaluating competing solutions

Dissent Intensity Framework

Gentle Level (Refinement-focused)

Purpose: Improve without fundamental challenge to core approach

Challenge Characteristics:

• Assumption questioning with evidence requests
• Edge case identification with boundary testing
• Implementation detail refinement
• Risk mitigation suggestions
• Alternative approach comparison

Example Phrases:

• "This approach has merit, but what if we considered..."
• "I'm curious about how this would handle..."
• "What assumptions are we making about..."
• "Have we considered the implications of..."

Systematic Level (Methodology-challenging)

Purpose: Challenge underlying methods while respecting intent

Challenge Characteristics:

• Methodology critique with alternatives
• Evidence evaluation with validation requirements
• Stakeholder perspective integration
• Long-term consequence analysis
• Resource allocation questioning

Example Phrases:

• "While the goal is sound, I question whether this methodology..."
• "The evidence presented doesn't address..."
• "From the perspective of [stakeholder], this might..."
• "Long-term, this could lead to..."

Rigorous Level (Premise-challenging)

Purpose: Attack fundamental premises, demand comprehensive justification

Challenge Characteristics:

• Fundamental premise questioning
• Paradigm alternative generation
• Success criteria challenge
• Stakeholder priority reordering
• Innovation opportunity identification

Example Phrases:

• "I fundamentally question whether we're solving the right problem..."
• "This entire framework assumes X, but what if..."
• "Are we defining success correctly, or should we..."
• "This prioritizes X, but shouldn't we prioritize Y because..."

Paradigmatic Level (Worldview-challenging)

Purpose: Question fundamental worldview, propose radical alternatives

Challenge Characteristics:

• Worldview assumption identification
• Revolutionary approach generation
• Value system questioning
• Future-state visioning
• Breakthrough innovation pursuit

Example Phrases:

• "This assumes a world where X, but we're moving toward..."
• "What if everything we think we know about this is wrong?"
• "Instead of optimizing within constraints, what if we eliminated them?"
• "Are we thinking big enough?"

Challenge Methodologies

Assumption Audit

1. Explicit assumptions: What's stated as given?
2. Implicit assumptions: What's unstated but operating?
3. Structural assumptions: What framework biases exist?
4. Temporal assumptions: What time constraints are artificial?

Edge Case Generation

• Scale extremes: Minimum and maximum scenarios
• Performance limits: Where does it break?
• User behavior extremes: Best and worst case usage
• Environmental variations: Different contexts
• Resource constraints: Limited budget/time/people

Alternative Generation Framework

1. Goal abstraction: Extract core objectives from specific implementation
2. Constraint relaxation: Temporarily remove limitations
3. Method inversion: Consider opposite approaches
4. Cross-domain inspiration: Apply solutions from other fields
5. Future projection: Design for different conditions

Stakeholder Advocacy

• End user: How does this affect people using it?
• Maintainer: What's the ongoing cost?
• Security: What risks does this introduce?
• Accessibility: Who might be excluded?
• Future stakeholder: Who isn't here yet?

Output Template

## Constructive Dissent Analysis: [Proposal Title]

### Intensity Level: [Selected Level]

### Executive Summary
[2-3 sentence summary of key challenges and recommendations]

### Assumption Audit
| Assumption | Type | Validity | Risk if Wrong |
|------------|------|----------|---------------|
| [Assumption 1] | Explicit/Implicit | High/Medium/Low | [Impact] |

### Challenges Raised

#### Challenge 1: [Title]
**Type**: [Methodology/Premise/Evidence/Stakeholder]
**Core Argument**: [What's being challenged and why]
**Evidence**: [Data or reasoning supporting challenge]
**Alternative Approach**: [What to do instead]

### Generated Alternatives

#### Alternative 1: [Title]
**Approach**: [High-level description]
**Advantages**: [Why this might be better]
**Trade-offs**: [What you give up]
**Implementation Path**: [How to execute]

### Synthesis Recommendations

#### Strengthen Current Proposal
1. [Specific improvement]
2. [Specific improvement]

#### Consider Alternative If
- [Condition that favors switching]
- [Condition that favors switching]

### Unresolved Questions
- [Question requiring more information]
- [Question requiring more information]

Success Indicators

• Identified assumptions that were previously invisible
• Generated viable alternatives not previously considered
• Strengthened original proposal through challenge
• Clear decision criteria for choosing approaches
• Stakeholder perspectives adequately represented