Creating Multiple Decompositions

A single analysis can often be decomposed in more than one way. Different analysts may emphasize different drivers, or you may want to explore how changing the structure of a decomposition affects downstream indicators, forecasts, and scenarios. Hinsley lets you maintain multiple independent decompositions within the same analysis, each with its own drivers, indicators, and visualizations.

Why Use Multiple Decompositions?

Every analysis starts with one decomposition, but as your understanding evolves you may find that a single breakdown does not capture all the angles you need. Multiple decompositions are useful when you want to:

• Explore alternative analytical frameworks — for example, decomposing a geopolitical question by regional actors in one decomposition and by thematic drivers (economic, military, diplomatic) in another
• Preserve an established decomposition that a collaborator is working on while experimenting with a revised structure
• Tailor decompositions for different audiences or decision-makers who focus on different aspects of the same issue
• Compare how different driver structures lead to different indicator priorities and forecasting outcomes

The Primary Decomposition

Every analysis has exactly one primary decomposition. The primary decomposition is the default — it is the one that appears when you first navigate to an analysis's decomposition section.

You can change which decomposition is primary at any time. Promoting a different decomposition to primary automatically demotes the previous one. The primary decomposition cannot be deleted; if you want to remove it, first promote another decomposition to primary.

Creating a New Decomposition

To create a new decomposition, navigate to the decomposition section of your analysis and open the decomposition management page. From there you can create a blank decomposition with a new title, then populate it with drivers and indicators using the builder or AI generation — just as you would with the original decomposition. Any changes you make to a decomposition are independent of the other decompositions in the analysis.

Cloning a Decomposition

Rather than building a new decomposition from scratch, you can clone an existing one. Cloning copies all drivers and their indicators into a new decomposition. The clone is independent of the original — editing drivers or indicators in one decomposition does not affect the other.

Cloning is particularly useful when you want to:

• Branch off a working decomposition to test a different analytical structure without risk
• Create a snapshot of your current decomposition before a major revision
• Give a collaborator their own copy to modify independently

Switching Between Decompositions

When an analysis has more than one decomposition, a dropdown switcher appears in the decomposition navigation bar. Use it to move between decompositions without leaving the page. Each decomposition has its own builder view, visualizations, and export options.

Decompositions and the Hinsley Chat

When you use the Hinsley chat within an analysis, the chat is aware of which decomposition you are currently viewing. AI-generated suggestions for new drivers or indicators will target the active decomposition. You can also switch the chat's context to a different decomposition using the context selector in the chat header, so the AI's suggestions and reasoning always align with the decomposition you are working on.

Relationship to Scenario Sets

Multiple decompositions and scenario sets are complementary features. While scenario sets let you explore alternative framings of possible futures, multiple decompositions let you explore alternative ways of breaking down the analytical problem itself. You can mix and match — for example, pairing one decomposition with multiple scenario sets, or vice versa — to build a richer analytical picture.