Assumption
Official Definition:
A statement accepted as true without proof for planning purposes, which may later be tested or changed.
Layman’s Definition:
Assumptions are things you believe to be true but haven’t yet proven — you build plans around them.
Examples:
• Construction – Planning Permission: Assuming planning permission will be granted within 3 months.
• Retail – Supplier Delivery: Assuming a supplier will maintain current delivery schedules.
• IT – User Availability: Assuming users will be available for testing during UAT window.
When to use:
Use during planning and risk assessment phases to document elements considered true in the absence of evidence, helping to highlight areas of uncertainty.
What it might look like in practice:
• Listed in the Project Initiation Documentation (PID) or planning documents.
• Regularly reviewed in meetings, tracked in a RAID log or assumptions register.