The role of information content, assumptions and iterations in product development processes

The goal of this paper is to address the role of iterations and assumptions in the context of product development. From a comparison between the existing literature and experiences from product development projects some guidelines are deduced for the iteration return points regarding four specific reasons for iterations (false assumptions, undesired results, optimisation and change of boundary conditions). Among these reasons for iterations, the false assumptions are unique in the sense that assumptions (as replacements for information) are entirely under the control of the product development team. As a suggestion to decrease the number and length of iterations stemming from false assumptions we propose that assumptions should become a more conscious part of product development by documenting them including their rationale and history.