Assumption Check
What
A tool to bring the key assumptions underlying your business idea to the surface. The assumption scanner can be done at any stage of your project. You do it together with customers or other key stakeholders to ensure the assumptions are checked from different angles.
Why
We all live our life based on assumptions. Knowing and testing your assumptions is key to make sure that your work is in line with the needs and expectations of your customers.
How
1. Review your plans and ideas (this can be a persona, a vision, a user journey or your whole business plan) and write down all the assumptions about your target group.
The following questions might help you to find your assumptions:
• Why do we think that X is a solution for Y?
• What are we taking for granted about the target group, the stakeholders or key partners?
• Why is X considered a problem?
• Which political, economic or environmental aspects are necessary to help the solution to succeed?
2. Share your assumptions with your customers. Get their feedback on how much your assumptions resonate with them. Get feedback from at least 6 different people.
3. Revise your plans or create new ones based on the feedback received.
Reflection moment
Discuss with the team:
• Was the feedback surprising?
• What were the most unexpected findings?
• Were your assumptions different from your customers’ reality?
Representatives of the customer(s) and/or stakeholder group(s)
45 minutes
• Digital worksheet (following page) or paper and pen
Assumption Check
Worksheet instructions
You can fill in this digital worksheet by downloading it as .pptx and typing in the text box.
My assumptions are:
The plan(s) or idea(s) you want to check:
After feedback, my new assumptions are: