What are the best ways to identify unstated assumptions in a decision?

Five points to identify unstated assumptions: 1) Ask why someone believes something will work. What are the unspoken "givens" they rely on? 2) Consider "what if": Imagine the opposite of the assumption. Would the decision still make sense? 3) Look for biases: Are personal preferences or preconceived notions influencing the decision? 4) Check the data: Does the evidence support the assumption, or is it wishful thinking? 5) Ask questions: Clarify and challenge assumptions respectfully to uncover the full picture.

The best way to address unexamined assumptions in decision-making is to apply risk management principles. Essentially, risk represents the variance between forecasted outcomes and actual results, and by managing decision risks, we can mitigate significant losses in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Identification of unstated assumptions is critical in decision making, to identify ask very basic questions instead of making different scenarios. What and why are keys to deep dive in basics. Pre-mortem of the decision will also lead to help in finding the root cause/s and help to uncover the overlooked and underestimated assumptions during decision making.

Recognizing unstated assumptions is essential for refining critical thinking and decision-making. Unacknowledged assumptions can lead to logical fallacies, biases, and emotional influences. Making assumptions explicit allows scrutiny, strengthening arguments and avoiding errors in reasoning. This process promotes intellectual humility, objectivity, and creativity by encouraging exploration of different perspectives. Identifying unstated assumptions is a powerful tool for cultivating well-informed reasoning, contributing to effective decision-making.

False assumptions are one of the main causes of decisions that fail. You can identify unstated assumptions by asking: What unstated facts or beliefs are necessary to connect the known decisional data to the decision? ??????????????: A company changes salespeople's pay from salary to salary+commission. The company's sales and revenue decrease. So does the salespersons' overall income. Data showed that the salespeople worked to make just enough sales to meet the employee's personal income comfort threshold. The ???????????????? ???????????????????? was that most salespeople would want to maximize their income. ??????????: An unstated assumption in my example is that the salespeoples' salary decreased in the change to salary+ commission.

To identify unstated assumptions in a decision, use methods like asking questions about evidence, and alignment with goals, implications, and alternatives. The Ladder of Inference helps uncover assumptions throughout the thinking process, while the Socratic Method challenges the validity and relevance of claims and premises.

After identifying unstated assumptions in a decision, evaluating them is crucial to ascertain their reasonableness, justification, and consistency. Consider the available evidence, the logic underpinning the assumption, its relevance to the problem or goal, and the perspective from which it is approached. Assess whether there is ample and reliable evidence supporting the assumption, if it aligns logically with other assumptions and conclusions, addresses key issues or criteria, and incorporates multiple perspectives. This evaluative process ensures that decisions are informed and robust.

Utilizing unstated assumptions creatively entails not just identifying and evaluating them but leveraging their potential for innovative ideas or solutions. Consider reversing or inverting assumptions to explore uncharted possibilities or challenges. Combine or modify assumptions with other factors for the emergence of new opportunities or constraints. Moreover, challenging or breaking assumptions by questioning their validity, soundness, or relevance can redefine problems or solutions, uncovering novel insights or alternatives. Through these creative strategies, unstated assumptions serve as a catalyst for inventive thinking and problem-solving.

Exploring implicit assumptions is like unravelling creative puzzles. Inverting, mixing or challenging these preconceived ideas is like opening doors to new worlds of possibilities. It's like remodelling a puzzle, discovering unexpected patterns and revealing surprising solutions.