Assumptions and limits analysis is a method used in project management to find and deal with assumptions and limitations that can affect the success of a project. Assumptions are things that are thought to be true but haven’t been proven yet, and limits are things that limit the choices or abilities of the project team.
Here are the main steps of an assumptions and limits analysis:
Identify assumptions: Make a list of the assumptions that have been made about the project scope, schedule, resources, and partners during the planning process.
Validate theories: Figure out which ideas have been tested and which have not. Find any missing information or data that needs to be filled in order to prove claims.
Document assumptions: Write down the assumptions that have been tested and the ones that haven’t in an assumptions log or something similar. Give each idea a person who is in charge of checking it, and set a deadline for checking.
Identify any problems that could affect the project, such as a limited budget, a lack of resources, or rules that must be followed.
Document constraints: Write down the constraints you’ve found in a constraints log or something similar. Find out if there are any ways to deal with or get around the problems.
Check and change: During the project’s completion phase, the assumptions and limits should be checked and changed as needed.
By doing an assumptions and limits analysis, project teams can better handle risks, make well-informed decisions, and change the project plan as needed to make sure it works. It helps make sure that assumptions are checked and that limits are found and handled well, which can lead to a better project result in the end.
