Assassination by Assumption
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 3:23AM by Jason Markow 
Image Credit: Funky64
“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 the Design 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?