There was discussion at a recent online networking session about how much the work dress code has changed in the past 5 years. Many companies have already moved to a more informal dress code and this is under review again following the levels of home working over the past months.  Ultimately, this means we can no longer assume what to wear when we start to visit clients and businesses again in the future, which triggered thoughts around our use of assumptions and what we take for granted. 

At a subconscious level, assumptions are a useful shortcut for the multitude of decisions that are required daily in both our personal and work lives.  For instance, I assume the supermarket is open today based on my previous experience and knowledge.  This means that when life as we know it is challenged, as it is at present, many of our assumptions no longer hold true and decision making inevitably is more intensive.

In Projects, assumptions definitely have their place, but identifying and minimising these is the key to project success.  One of my favourite examples is as follows:

The project brief is simple, ‘Design a house with 3 bedrooms’, however, if you ask a group of people to each draw how they see the end result (‘the requirements’), everyone will produce something different.  This is because we are all individuals with our own vision, whether it’s the layout, the roof shape or the number of bathrooms.  For that reason architects are usually employed to produce the exact specifications for a house to clarify the design before construction begins. 

Requirements gathering at the start of any type of project is therefore critical and using ‘who, what, when, how and where’ helps defines the end goal, removing as many assumptions as possible.  For example, if you’re designing a website, having an initial visual design for each web page required is a great way to gain internal agreement before discussing with the website designers.  Any remaining assumptions can then documented for assessment and validation as the project progresses.  It can be a lengthy process but defining the requirements at the start will ultimately lead to better solutions and a smoother project, saving you time and costs further down the line.

As the saying goes, ‘it’s good to talk!’ and at the same time, we all know what happened to assume……

Mint Blue Consulting provides tailored project management for companies of all sizes to help them grow and develop.  For more information see www.mintblueconsulting.co.uk