Introduction to
Assumptions Mapping
Agile 2017 Conference, Orlando FL
David J Bland
Hello,
I help organizations visualize and test
strategy in the market using Lean Startup,
Design Thinking and Agile.
The following workshop teaches the same
tools and techniques I use with teams all
around the world to launch new business
ideas in the market.
David J Bland, Founder & CEO
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
STORY
BACKLOG
@davidjbland
STORY
BACKLOG
THE ASSUMPTIONS STACK
The Four Steps to
the Epiphany
Steve Blank
Business Model
Generation
Alexander Osterwälder
@davidjbland
The Lean Startup
Eric Ries
The Lean Startup
Eric Ries
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
BUILD
MEASURE
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
BUILD
MEASURELEARN
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
BUILD
MEASURELEARN
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
BUILD
MEASURELEARN
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
Start with LEARN
@davidjbland
LEARN
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
What do we need to LEARN?
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
What do we need MEASURE to LEARN?
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
Do we need to BUILD to MEASURE to LEARN?
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
LEARN MEASURE
BUILD
Adapted from Eric Ries
@davidjbland
If you can BUILD MEASURE LEARN
faster than the competition…
@davidjbland
…then you are no longer reactive to THEM
@davidjbland
…they become reactive to YOU.
The Four Steps to
the Epiphany
Steve Blank
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Have the problem
Adapted from Steve Blank
@davidjbland
Have the problem
Aware of the problem
Adapted from Steve Blank
@davidjbland
Have the problem
Aware of the problem
Seeking
a solution
Adapted from Steve Blank
Business Model
Generation
Alexander Osterwälder
@davidjbland
@davidjbland Business Model Canvas - Alex Osterwalder
@davidjbland
Feasible
Desirable
Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
Desirable
Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Feasible
Desirable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Feasible Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Feasible
Desirable
Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Assumptions Mapping
/əˈsəm(p)SH(ə)ns ˈmapiNG/
a team exercise where desirability, viability
and feasibility assumptions are explicitly
written down and then decided upon.
@davidjbland
LET’S PRACTICE
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CHOOSE ONE BUSINESS IDEA for AGILE
BLOCKCHAIN
@davidjbland
BLOCKCHAIN VIRTUAL
REALITY
CHOOSE ONE BUSINESS IDEA for AGILE
@davidjbland
BLOCKCHAIN VIRTUAL
REALITY
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
CHOOSE ONE BUSINESS IDEA for AGILE
@davidjbland
BLOCKCHAIN VIRTUAL
REALITY
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
CHOOSE ONE BUSINESS IDEA for AGILE
Feasible
Desirable
Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
Desirable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
@davidjbland
OUR TARGET
CUSTOMER
IS ____________
Desirable
OUR
CUSTOMER’S
PROBLEM
IS ____________
@davidjbland
Desirable
Viable
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
WE’LL GET
CUSTOMERS
BY ____________
Viable
@davidjbland
WE’LL
GENERATE
REVENUE
BY __________
Viable
@davidjbland
Feasible
Adapted from Larry Keeley, Doblin Group@davidjbland
OUR BIGGEST
TECHNICAL
CHALLENGE
IS____________
Feasible
@davidjbland
Feasible
@davidjbland
OUR BIGGEST
LEGAL RISK
IS____________
@davidjbland
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE ASSUMPTIONS?
@davidjbland
DOT VOTING
@davidjbland
STACK RANKING
@davidjbland
CHOSEN FOR YOU
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
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Known Unknown
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
Important
Unimportant
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
Important
Unimportant
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
Important
Unimportant
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
Important
Unimportant
@davidjbland
Known Unknown
Important
Unimportant
@davidjbland
Assumption
Mapping Tips
• Discuss each sticky as a team
• Location on the map is relative
• Based on what you know today
@davidjbland
known unknown
important
unimportant
Leap of Faith
Assumptions
@davidjbland
Landing Page
Paper Prototype
Clickable Prototype
Concierge MVP
Call to Action
Feature Fake
404 Test
Problem Interviews
Solution Interviews
Surveys
Letter of Intent
Pretend-to-Own
Kickstarter
Meetup / Event
@davidjbland
GENERATE THE EXPERIMENTS
FROM YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
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TIME
UNCERTAINTY
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TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
@davidjbland
TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
interviews
@davidjbland
TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
interviews
paper
prototype
@davidjbland
TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
interviews
paper
prototype
clickable
wireframe
@davidjbland
TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
interviews
paper
prototype
clickable
wireframe
landing
page
@davidjbland
TIME
UNCERTAINTY
FIDELITY
interviews
paper
prototype
clickable
wireframe
landing
page
minimum
viable
product
@davidjbland
Landing Page
Paper Prototype
Clickable Prototype
Concierge MVP
Call to Action
Feature Fake
404 Test
Problem Interviews
Solution Interviews
Surveys
Letter of Intent
Pretend-to-Own
Kickstarter
Meetup / Event
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Landing Page
Paper Prototype
Clickable Prototype
Concierge MVP
Call to Action
Feature Fake
404 Test
Problem Interviews
Solution Interviews
Surveys
Letter of Intent
Pretend-to-Own
Kickstarter
Meetup / Event
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
Landing Page
Paper Prototype
Clickable Prototype
Concierge MVP
Call to Action
Feature Fake
404 Test
Problem Interviews
Solution Interviews
Surveys
Pretend-to-Own
Kickstarter
Meetup / Event
Letter of Intent
@davidjbland
@davidjbland
STORY
BACKLOG
Feasible
Desirable
Viable
@davidjbland
QUESTIONS
CONTACT
@davidjbland
DAVID@PRECOIL.COM
@davidjbland
EXTRAS
@davidjbland
EXPERIMENTTEMPLATE
@davidjbland https://www.dropbox.com/s/lv0a2b0oxreffqu/Experiment%20Report%20Worksheet%20-%20PRECOIL%201.0.pdf?dl=0
@davidjbland
ASSUMPTIONS MAPPING GUIDE
@davidjbland https://www.dropbox.com/s/unoq0p7azrwiwi5/Assumptions%20Mapping%20Worksheet%20-%20PRECOIL%202.0.pdf?dl=0
@davidjbland
EXPERIMENT STACK
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U4KnF2obhibod0VNt1EDWUT_5ONcAQg74KIHU3xaAcE/edit#gid=0
@davidjbland http://precoil.com/precoil-resources-page.html

Introduction to Assumptions Mapping #Agile2017