Presumptive Design

Chapter 6

Make Assumptions Explicit

Abstract

By asking internal stakeholders to craft an artifact together, PrD shines a light on each team member’s assumptions. The process of revealing assumptions is, in and of itself, beneficial to the organization as it reduces potential misunderstanding early. But equally important to aligning internal teams around their (often hidden) assumptions, PrD asks teams to reveal assumptions to external stakeholders, enabling rich conversations with little investment.

Keywords

assumptions

implicit

explicit

reveal

expose

vet

alignment

cohesion

Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.

—Alan Alda

Overview

Our assumptions are like a building that ...