Assumptions in the shadows

Get your assumptions into the open. Confusion hides in the dark.

Your data team, data strategy, and data technologies are built on dozens (if not hundreds) of assumptions. Some of those assumptions you made, some were made by your teammates, and many were made by the people before (who are long gone).

Why does that matter for your data team?

Many of the blockers you face in your day to day work as a data team is because of those assumptions.

- You assume the budget will be available later for a project.

- You assume your team can’t handle any more work.

- You assume the business needs data to do it’s job.

- You assume your tech stack is the best option based on your circumstances.

- You assume Joey over in accounting is data illiterate and will never be pleased with that report.

The quickest way to surface these assumptions is to do an assumption inventory. That could look like sticky notes all over a conference room wall, a pen and legal pad, or a shared google doc. It works best when done with a teammate or two.

Then sort them into three categories.

1. Assumptions that are clearly true.

2. Assumptions that you are unsure if they are true.

3. Assumptions that are clearly false.

As you assign assumptions to bucket 2 and 3, you will start to unlock ideas, patterns or opportunities you’ve ignored for a long time.

Give this a try and see what comes out of the shadows. Then, let me know how it goes.

I’m here,

Sawyer