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Centre for Sustainable Agrifood Systems

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STARTProject Development Toolkit

Workshop tool

Assumptions matrix

Use this when you have a list of assumptions and need to decide which to address first.

Where it’s used:Step 3: Problem exploration

How to use it

Place your assumptions in the matrix. The horizontal axis runs from no influence on quality or outcome to potential project killer; the vertical axis from easy to address to extremely difficult to address.

Then address your assumptions in this order:

  1. The easy-to-address potential project killers
  2. The difficult-to-address potential project killers
  3. The easy-to-address non-influential assumptions
  4. The difficult-to-address non-influential assumptions

This order reduces the risk of the project by eliminating potential project killers first, and then picks the low-hanging fruit of the easy assumptions.

Assumptions matrix: handbook exampleThe six example assumptions placed in the assumptions matrix. Easy to address and non-influential: 6 publishing in a specific journal, and 3 room in the budget for everyone (near the centre). Easy to address and a potential project killer: 2 the project matches the call, and 1 finishing before the deadline (near the centre). Difficult to address and a potential project killer: 4 there is a need for the technology, and 5 users will love the product.632145No influence onquality or outcomePotentialproject killerEasy to addressExtremely difficult to address1We can finish the application before the deadlineof this call2This project is a match for this specific call3There is room in the budget for all of us to getwhat we need4There is a need for the technology we aredeveloping5Users will love this product!6We can publish the results in this specifichigh-impact journal
The six example assumptions from handbook p. 15 placed in the matrix (p. 16).

Source: START Triple-I project development tool kit, pp. 15–17.