Many initiatives falter not because of poor execution but because of untested assumptions that surface too late. Whether developing a new program, redesigning an exhibition, or implementing a technology solution, critical assumptions often hide in plain sight — masked by excitement about opportunities or pressure to move quickly.
Assumption mapping provides a structured way to identify and test these assumptions before investing significant resources. I've created this quick guide to help you begin practicing assumption mapping in your museum.
Real Examples Reveal Common Patterns
During a recent session, several interesting patterns emerged in how assumptions shape museum projects:
A children's museum received donated equipment and curriculum from a local tech education business. An initial assumption was that staff would develop sufficient expertise to deliver the material. While the team had evidence about market pricing for similar programs, they had less confidence in staff readiness — an assumption that proved critical to success.
An academic art museum planned to implement QR codes for interpretive content, making assumptions about student technology preferences, WiFi accessibility, and content delivery. Through mapping, they realized some assumptions were both more important and less certain than initially recognized.
These examples highlight how the riskiest assumptions can hide in plain sight. The assumption mapping framework helps teams:
Distinguish between what we know and what we believe
Identify which assumptions are most critical to test
Focus limited resources on reducing the biggest risks
Make assumptions explicit so they can be discussed, challenged, and tested
The Quick Guide
The downloadable guide provides a practical framework for:
Identifying five key types of assumptions that shape museum projects
Using a simple matrix to prioritize which assumptions to test first
Testing assumptions quickly, even with limited resources
Avoiding common pitfalls that lead to poor assumption statements
The guide builds on Teresa Torres' work on continuous discovery, adapted specifically for museum contexts. It's designed to support 30-minute mapping sessions that can be integrated into your regular project planning process.
Using the Framework
One museum professional who participated in our session noted: "I realized we often jump straight to solutions without questioning our underlying assumptions. This framework gives us a structured way to pause and ask, 'What needs to be true for this to work?'"
The key is starting small. Choose one upcoming decision or initiative. Map your assumptions in 30 minutes. Test what matters most. Build confidence in the process. Then, apply it to larger strategic questions.
Remember: The goal isn't to eliminate assumptions — that's impossible. The goal is to make assumptions explicit so we can test the ones that matter most.