The In-Depth Guide to Project Assumptions with Examples

In project management, assumptions are factors that are believed to be true or certain, though their certainty cannot be fully confirmed. While assumptions come with risks, they serve as a foundation for progress in the face of uncertainty.

No one would ever start a project if they waited to eliminate all uncertainty, but a mistaken assumption can derail project strategy. “Therefore,” says Alan Zucker, founding principal of Project Management Essentials, “you need to document assumptions and validate or confirm them as soon as reasonable. Unvalidated assumptions get you in trouble because you make decisions on bad or partial information.”

Everyone makes assumptions on a regular basis. Here are some assumptions we make in everyday life:

• The faucet will dispense water when turned on.
• The grocery store will have the items on your shopping list in stock.
• The internet connection at your office will be available and reliable.
• The alarm clock will wake you up at the time you set.
• There will be tea bags in the pantry for your morning tea.

If you rely on tea to get you going in the morning, you should regularly check your tea supply before you do your weekly shopping. Similarly, if you have an important meeting early in the morning, you might double-check your alarm or set an additional alarm before going to sleep.

In project management, key assumptions encompass such factors as assuming that there will be uninterrupted power supply at the office every workday or you’ll have an adequate supply of paper for the printer. Assumption analysis, a component of risk management in project planning, involves identifying these assumptions. Inaccurate assumptions can impact the triple constraint of time, money, and scope.