Identify your assumptions

When working on a complex problem, you need to be careful not to be working from the wrong assumptions.

If you assume, for example, that a problem has to do with finances, even if that is what it looks like on the surface, you might miss the real problem of emotional emptiness, that prompts excessive shopping.

We assume things because we have a particular history, knowledge, beliefs, personality, values, education, socio-economic circumstances, etc. Someone from the financial field might want to treat the problem as a financial one, while someone from a helping environment might spot the emotional problem underlying the dire finances.

Psychoanalytically, assumptions are what we project on circumstances. It could, therefore, be difficult to identify assumptions, as they are part of how we look at the world.

Wrong assumptions will lead to problem definitions that do not apply to the real problem at hand.

Let's look at an example.

The problem statement is, How may I organize the perfect birthday party for my 6-year-old son?

Whether you are arranging the party yourself or hire a company to do so, some assumptions you (or the company) could be making might include that:

• the party is for boys only,
• the party is for children only,
• adults will be present to supervise the children,
• only children from a particular race will be present,
• only those children who are your son's best friends will be invited,
• your son wants a birthday party,
• a birthday party for young children involves certain things (such as a jumping castle or ice cream),
• a birthday party requires refreshments,
• the party will be at your house,
• you should organize the party yourself,
• you know what your son's favourite foods and activities are,
• the children will all be non-disabled,
• the children will all be fluent in the language you and your son speak,
• your son's friends are all from the same school,
• the party will be noisy,
• the party should be during the day, and
• you know what would be the perfect birthday party for your son.

Some of these assumptions will be true, but if you don't identify the assumptions you are making, your son's birthday party might be a disaster.

Also, assumptions limit the area from which you will draw ideas.

How can you identify the assumptions you are making? Ask yourself questions such as,

• what am I missing here?
• how else can I view this?
• what am I assuming about others?
• what else is causing this?

Also try to identify how your personality, values, circumstances etc. might be influencing the way you approach the problem. A few examples are:

• if equality is one of your values, you would want to include children from several race groups,
• if you regard culture as important, it will influence your choice of event, entertainment, or food,
• an extrovert will arrange a different party than an introvert,
• the perfect party for an extrovert child will differ from that for an introvert child,
• a thrifty parent will organize a different party than one who believes no expense should be spared,
• your socio-economic circumstances will decide how much you spend on the party, and
• your memories of your childhood parties may influence the event.

All of these, and more, will influence the way your problem is defined. From How may I organize the perfect birthday party for my 6-year-old son? your problem (once you have identified and eliminated all your assumptions) might be more closely defined as How may I organize a party for my son that includes all his best friends, and will be enjoyable even for his friend in the wheelchair.

Comments

[Christina]

I'm beside myself with delight! Soooooo happy to have found you (well, at least your blog, lol!)! You love nature, tarot, science, creativity, psychology - what a lovely buffet! Martie, I love what I've read so far of your posts; I've subscribed, so keep up the good play!