Guiding design actions for complex failure modes

A method for guiding design actions for complex failure modes in an integrated circuit (IC) design, the method comprising:

• receiving a probability of failure estimate of a circuit according to the IC design, the probability being determined using a simulation;
• computing, in an application executing using a processor, a sensitivity of the probability of failure to a variable associated with a component in the circuit, wherein the sensitivity is determined by performing an estimation without performing the simulation;
• and
• depicting the sensitivity relative to the component in the IC design such that the sensitivity is associated with the component and a visual relationship between the component and the sensitivity of the probability of failure to the variable associated with the component is usable for adjusting a characteristic of the component to reduce the probability of failure of the circuit.