Assumption Test
An assumption test is a structured activity designed to evaluate the risk in an underlying assumption that needs to be true for your product idea to succeed.
How do assumption tests work in product discovery?
Rather than testing whole ideas (which takes more time and work), assumption tests allow product teams to quickly evaluate specific beliefs about customer behavior, technical feasibility, or business viability.
The type of activity varies based on the assumption category:
- For desirability and usability assumptions, teams design activities that allow them to simulate an experience and observe real customer behavior
- For feasibility assumptions, teams conduct engineering activities to understand how difficult something might be to build
- For viability and ethical assumptions, the activity varies based on the specifics of the assumption
By testing specific assumptions rather than whole ideas, teams can determine which ideas might work and which ones won't before investing in full development.
Learn more:
- Assumption Testing: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started
Related terms:
- Assumption
- Assumption Testing
- Desirability
- Feasibility
Last Updated: October 25, 2025