Assassination by Assumption

Posted by Jason Markow on Mar 10, 2010 in tips | 0 comments

“The least questioned assumptions are often the most questionable” -Paul Broca

The most lethal element when forced into the design equation can be summed up in a single word:

Assumption.

It is during the earliest stages of any process that assumptions do the most damage.  If you assume something early on it may not seem like an issue.

Think about a protractor.  The difference one degree makes is seemingly insignificant up close.  However, as the lines extend just a few feet and the separation becomes apparent.  Extend those lines a mile and the difference is insurmountable. The same can be said about a design resting on a foundation of assumptions.

To correctly attack business design you need to clear the slate.  100%.  Start with the fundamentals, the bare bones minimum. There is a good chance the question you were attempting to answer, the problem you were attempting to solve, or the path you were aiming towards is a few degrees off from the solution.

Assume nothing, and ask yourself: What assumptions am I making right now?

Image Credit: Funky64