A Half-Finished Project: Continue or Stop
Added 2026-11-01
Judge beyond sunk cost: how much value is left and who needs it.
I have a half-finished project (progress below). Do: 1) list the real costs and benefits of continuing versus stopping, ignoring time already spent; 2) judge whether the remaining value still holds — has the need changed; 3) identify a downgraded finish — shrink scope, keep it internal, open-source it; 4) give decision criteria: what makes continuing right, what makes stopping right; 5) warn me what would most likely sink it if I continue.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
半成品项目的判断标准是「剩余价值」，不是「已投入」。
Try tweaking it
- Ask what evidence would overturn the judgement.
- Have it argue both sides with three reasons each.
What you should get
- A decision table: assumptions, evidence, counter-evidence
- A next action with an observable signal
Common mistakes
- Asking only "should I?" and getting equally valid answers both ways.
- Never asking for counter-examples, so you only hear support.
How to check the output
- It states what evidence would overturn the conclusion.
- Both sides are argued, with assumptions marked as such.
Where it works
- Good for: splitting a decision into assumptions, evidence and counter-cases, leaving the call to you.
- Watch out: ask what evidence would overturn the judgement, or you will only hear supporting reasons.