Back to Glossary

Assumptions

What are Assumptions?

Assumptions are beliefs or suppositions about the project that are taken for granted and accepted as true without proof. They are used to make decisions and plan activities, but they can also be a source of risk if they turn out to be wrong. Assumptions can be made about anything related to the project, such as resources, timelines, costs, scope, stakeholders, and more.

Examples of Assumptions

Some examples of assumptions include: the availability of certain resources; the timeline for completion; the budget allocated for the project; the scope of work; the skills and expertise of team members; the level of support from stakeholders; and any external factors that may affect the project. All of these assumptions must be documented in order to ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page.

Managing Assumptions

It is important to manage assumptions throughout the life cycle of a project. This means regularly reviewing them to ensure they remain valid. If an assumption turns out to be incorrect, it should be addressed immediately so that any potential risks can be mitigated. Additionally, it is important to document all assumptions in order to ensure that everyone involved in the project is aware of them.