What is the OPA Framework? How It Can Transform Your Decision-Making Process

O: Opposite Thinking

Most of us spend our time figuring out how to make something work. Opposite Thinking flips that approach. Instead of asking, “How can I succeed?” you ask, “What could cause this to fail?”

That reversal helps you uncover blind spots early on.

Let’s say you’re saving an ice cream in the fridge to enjoy over the weekend. Instead of just hoping it’ll stay frozen, you flip the question: What might cause it to melt?

• Maybe the fridge loses power.
• Maybe the door is left open.
• Maybe the room’s too warm, and the fridge can’t keep up.

Once you know what could go wrong, you can plan to prevent it—with a backup power source, better storage, or a reminder to close the fridge door. You’re not just aiming for the outcome you want; you’re actively reducing the chances of the opposite happening.

Let’s understand this with a simple graph. You can ask these questions for any problem, and you'll be able to apply Opposite Thinking:

• What is my desired outcome? Let's say it’s +1.
• What’s the opposite of +1? It is –1.
• What are the paths that would lead to –1?
• How can I start removing those paths, one by one?

In Opposite Thinking, you view your problem in 1D or one dimension—where you analyse the situation from only two sides: the Desired Outcome and the Opposite Outcome. Like a straight line between the +ve and -ve side.

This reflection can either help you solve the problem right here or lay the foundation for the next stages: P & A. Whatever the result, make sure to capture your insights from this step, as they’ll play a key role in what comes next.

P: Phase Thinking

In Opposite Thinking, we looked at the problem in one dimension—asking, “What could go wrong?” and preparing for it. But sometimes, that linear view isn’t enough.

Phase Thinking helps you rotate your perspective—like turning the same object to see its other sides. You're still looking at the same problem, but now you're exploring it from different angles to uncover insights that aren’t visible head-on.

Let’s go back to the ice cream example.

In Opposite Thinking, you identified reasons the ice cream might melt—like a power outage, the fridge door being left open, or the room being too warm. All of these causes revolve around a single dimension: temperature-related melting.

But what if the problem isn’t about melting at all? Ask yourself:

• What if you didn't check the ice cream's expiry date, and it expires before the weekend?
• What if you didn't label your ice cream, and your roommate eats it before you can?
• What if the weekend plan changes, and you don’t return home in time to eat it?

These represent entirely different angles—product validity, communication gaps, and schedule shifts—not temperature.

That’s what Phase Thinking does. It helps you see the problem from different roles and perspectives and consider different environments and scenarios.

Let’s bring this into the graph:

If the X-axis shows the spectrum between your Desired Outcome (+1) and Opposite Outcome (–1), then the Y-axis adds new perspectives—views above and below the surface of the problem.

This Y-axis adds another dimension and gives you a 2D view—a fuller, more realistic view of the same problem. You’re not just reacting to problems—you’re seeing them in their full context.

Amplified Thinking

By now, you’ve challenged your thinking with Opposite Thinking and rotated your perspective with Phase Thinking.

But sometimes, we’re too close to see the big picture. And sometimes, we’re too far to notice the small cracks. Amplified Thinking helps you adjust your mental zoom lens — wide when you need wisdom, narrow when you need precision.

Think of this as switching between a microscope and a drone camera depending on the kind of clarity you need.

Let’s go back to our favorite example — the ice cream.

In Opposite Thinking, you asked: What might cause it to melt? In Phase Thinking, you asked: What if it expires? What if someone else eats it? What if my plan changes?

But now, let’s amplify on these questions.

While Zooming In, Ask Yourself:

• Do I have a power backup for my fridge?
• Did I actually check the ice cream label while buying it?
• Do I assume people won’t touch my things, or do I need a system of labelling?
• How can I plan my weekends better so I don't miss out on my ice cream next time?

You’re getting down to the atomic level of the problem. This isn’t about seeing more — it’s about seeing better.

While Zooming Out, Ask Yourself:

• Why does this ice cream even matter to me this much?
• Is it really about dessert — or is it about a moment I’m trying to preserve, a reward after a hectic week?
• How often do I make plans assuming everything will go perfectly — and how often do I prepare for flexibility?

At this level, the question shifts from “Will the ice cream survive?” to “How do I design my plans to give me joy, even if one small part melts?”

In short zooming in helps you spot:

• Root causes that surface-level thinking misses.
• Tiny signals that could spiral into bigger issues.
• Invisible assumptions or errors before they catch you.

And zooming out helps you see:

• The long-term impact of your short-term choices.
• The overall importance of a specific problem in the broader context.
• Whether this issue is even worth obsessing over.

Now let’s complete the graph model:

We started with the X-axis, representing a linear spectrum from Desired Outcome (+1) to Opposite Outcome (–1). That’s 1D thinking.

Then we added the Y-axis, representing different phases or perspectives letting us rotate the problem and look at it from multiple sides. Now we're at 2D.

Finally, we bring in the Z-axis for Amplifying. This lets us move inward for detail or outward for context, shifting how close or far we're seeing the problem from. This gives us 3D thinking where we don’t just understand what’s happening, but why it matters and how it connects.

The further out you go in each axis, the more clarity and context you gain.

With this last stage, you’re not just moving left or right, or up and down — you’re thinking in space.

Video below perfectly summarises this transition from one dimensional thinking to three dimensional thinking.