The document discusses common invalid assumptions that negatively impact business performance. It identifies five categories of assumptions: goals, design, strategy, performance, and alignment. For each category, it lists two invalid assumptions and notes that obtaining the complete list requires emailing the author. The author argues that identifying and addressing invalid assumptions can help improve business performance by eliminating inefficiencies.

1. November 2008 Invalid Business Assumptions www.stankirkwood.com

2. Every day! Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008 We make hundreds of assumptions

3. The sun will rise in the east The shower will have hot water We will connect to the internet Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

4. We don’t see our assumptions because events do not challenge them. Without realizing it our assumptions are strengthened every day. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

6. Assumptions are often referred to as something bad. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

7. If making assumptions is a bad thing then it follows that not making assumptions is a good thing. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

8. What would our lives be like if we didn’t make any assumptions? Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

9. Every situation and condition would have to be thought through before making a decision or taking a step. How does that sound? No Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

10. By making assumptions we relieve ourselves of the active thinking about events that almost always occur based upon our experiences. Assumptions are time savers… Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

11. … until the assumption does not work in our favor. We are blind to our assumptions until things do not go according to plan. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

12. Then we look for what we missed and try to see how it could have gone differently. Quite often we discover an action we overlooked but did not recognize because we made an invalid assumption. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

13. This is especially true in business. Decisions based upon invalid assumptions can lead to disastrous results but we are blind to the assumptions until we see the results. And then it is too late. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

14. Business leaders are doomed to run in circles because they are using invalid assumptions without knowing it. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

15. Here is a partial list of Invalid Business Assumptions that are having an adverse effect on the performance of every company. Read through them and see which ones apply to your business. Probably most of them. Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

16. I would like to know who is reading through my materials therefore I am only putting out this partial list. People tend not to comment on slideshows. Your cost is the time to request the complete list by sending an email to [email_address] * You won’t find this list any where else – it is original. * My contact with you will be limited to sending the complete presentation unless you wish me to respond to a question or ask my opinion about a business-related topic. If you elect to use this presentation I ask that you leave the copyright banner on the bottom of each slide so those watching the slideshow become familiar with my name. Being Honest Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

18. Goals Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

22. 3 rd and 4th invalid assumptions about Goals are available in the complete presentation Assumptions around Goals Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

23. Design Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

27. 3 rd and 4th invalid assumptions about Design are available in the complete presentation Assumptions around Design Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

28. Strategy Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

32. 3 rd and 4th invalid assumptions about Strategy are available in the complete presentation Assumptions around Strategy Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

33. Performance Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

37. 3 rd and 4th invalid assumptions about Performance are available in the complete presentation Assumptions around Performance Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

38. Alignment Assumptions Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008

41. 2nd invalid assumption about Alignment is available in the complete presentation Copyright: www.stankirkwood.com 2008 Assumptions around Performance