Before you commit the budget, know what you're actually betting on.
Most AI consultants tell you which tools to adopt. I tell you which assumptions your strategy depends on — and whether any of them have actually been tested. Written verdict in 5–7 days. No stake in your tooling.
AI initiatives fail for the same reason every expensive mistake does. The wrong question was answered confidently.
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Everyone is under pressure to move.
The board wants momentum. Your competitors are announcing AI initiatives. The pressure to commit is real and immediate — but nobody in the room is asking whether the underlying assumption is correct.
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Nobody in the room is paid to say no.
The people evaluating the proposal have a stake in being seen as forward-thinking. The vendor has a stake in the sale. The consultant has a stake in the implementation. The question that would stop the initiative never gets asked.
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The flaw surfaces during rollout, not before.
Most AI failures look like execution problems. They're usually diagnosis failures — the wrong problem was solved at scale with budget already committed. The cost of a bad assumption surfaces in week ten, not week one.
Most advisors reinforce the pressure to act. I apply to AI decisions the same scrutiny financial analysis applies to investment proposals.
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Assumption Audit
Every AI initiative rests on beliefs treated as facts. Which ones have actually been tested? I find the load-bearing assumptions your strategy depends on — including the ones nobody in the room has named yet.
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Adversarial Scrutiny
I apply the strongest counter-evidence available to each assumption. Not to be contrarian — to find out which parts of your AI strategy are solid and which will fail in contact with the real world.
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Written Verdict
You receive a clear documented assessment: which AI investments are sound, which need rethinking, and which are built on assumptions that deserve scrutiny before another euro goes in.
Four ways to pressure-test an AI decision before it costs you more.
Most AI failures were predictable. The assumptions were there. The questions weren't asked. These engagements ask the questions.
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Second Opinion
A vendor just sent you a proposal. Here's what they didn't tell you.
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AI Project Assessment
Your team is about to commit budget to an AI project — and nobody's independently checked whether the vendor's claims hold up.
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AI Strategy Workshop
Your leadership team is about to align on an AI strategy — without ever stress-testing the assumptions it's built on.
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AI Advisory Retainer
New AI vendors and initiatives keep landing on your desk — and nobody is structurally challenging them before they take on a life of their own.
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Discovery Call
30 minutes on your AI situation: what you're planning, what you've committed, what assumptions are driving it. You leave knowing whether a formal assessment would change anything.
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Scoped Assessment
I take the AI initiative apart: vendor claims, internal assumptions, strategic reasoning. You receive a written assessment within 5–7 days, or within 48–72 hours for a Second Opinion.
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Written Verdict
Clear recommendation: proceed, pause, or rethink — documented for your board or leadership team. With the counterarguments that sharpen the decision.
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On-Demand Scrutiny
Optional monthly access to pressure-test AI decisions as they arise. Consensus and momentum rebuild fast without a challenge function.
The most expensive AI mistake isn't choosing the wrong vendor. It's answering the wrong question first.
In every AI failure there was a moment where the right question would have changed the decision. The question wasn't asked — not because nobody was smart enough, but because nobody in the room was paid to ask it. That's the gap this work fills.
European companies are under pressure to "do something with AI", and vendors are happy to help them move fast. Moving fast on the wrong assumption is how €500K projects fail to deliver. The assessment model makes the investment obvious: find out what's wrong with the strategy before you commit more to it.
Iconoclast Insights
No guests selling frameworks. No polite agreement. Just the uncomfortable questions your industry needs to hear. Solo episodes, 10–15 minutes. Business and technology, questioned.
Trusted by leaders who think differently.
When leaders step away from conventional playbooks and confront the root of their challenges, these are the outcomes.
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Clear communication, innovative solutions, never satisfied with "can't".
André Daus stands for clear communication. There are few people who get to the heart of a matter with clear words, one could even say unsparingly, as André does. The problem analysis and the resulting solution proposals often appear surprising or innovative at first glance. In his analysis, he works purposefully with great perseverance and is never satisfied with "can't".
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Excellent didactic skills, pleasant and communicative manner.
With André Daus, we were able to gain a trainer who has extensive specialist and IT know-how. He knew how to prepare the topics to be dealt with in the best possible way, both in terms of scope and time frame. Thanks to his excellent didactic skills, he was able to convey the material in an understandable and practical way at all times. His pleasant and communicative manner fostered a pleasant and trusting learning and working environment.
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The perfect link between IT and business.
André brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in both IT and business, making him the perfect link between the two increasingly merging worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What you're really asking is whether thinking differently is worth the discomfort. These answers will create new questions. That's the point.
See all Questions-
How can critical thinking be applied in various aspects of life, including work, education, and everyday decision-making?
Critical thinking is applicable across diverse contexts, from analyzing data and solving technical problems in the workplace to evaluating arguments and making ethical decisions in personal life. By applying critical thinking skills, individuals can become more effective communicators, better problem-solvers, and more responsible citizens. They can also become more resilient in the face of misinformation, manipulation, and cognitive biases, enabling them to make more informed choices and contribute to positive change in society.
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What are the key components of critical thinking, and how can they be developed?
Key components of critical thinking include clarity, accuracy, relevance, logic, depth, and fairness. To develop critical thinking skills, individuals can practice asking probing questions, examining assumptions, considering multiple perspectives, evaluating evidence, identifying biases, and engaging in constructive dialogue. Activities such as debates, case studies, problem-solving exercises, and reflective writing can also help hone critical thinking abilities.
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What is critical thinking, and why is it important in today’s world?
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to form well-reasoned judgments or decisions. In an era of rapid change, uncertainty, and information overload, critical thinking skills are essential for navigating complex issues, solving problems effectively, making informed choices, and adapting to new challenges.
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How can I introduce Liberating Structures to my team or organization?
To introduce Liberating Structures, start by sharing the principles and benefits with your team or colleagues. Encourage experimentation and learning by incorporating one or two structures into your next meeting or workshop. Provide resources, training, and support to help participants understand and adapt to the new approach. Over time, gather feedback, iterate, and expand the use of Liberating Structures based on the experiences and needs of your group.
If you've been avoiding
a question, that's the one we start with.
A discovery call is where we find out which assumptions are running unchallenged in your strategy right now — and what it would cost to keep ignoring them.