## Why Should Teams Use Hypotheses Instead of Just Trying Things? Hypotheses encourage systemic thinking by requiring clear assumptions and defined measurements, avoiding a reactive “whack-a-mole” approach to problem solving. >[!metaphor] >Prioritizing random requests without hypotheses is like playing whack-a-mole with a blindfold on. You might hit something, but you won’t know why, and you’re just reacting to noise instead of understanding the pattern. </br> Hypotheses force teams to pause, think systemically, and define success, turning chaotic trial-and-error into intentional learning. ## Works Consulted 1. [Hypotheses — What are they? Why are they important?](https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/hypotheses-what-are-they-why-are-they-important) | Scrum.org | Accessed 23 Jun. 2025. ## Connections follows:: [[5.2 Assumptions Become Experiments in Hypothesis-Driven Development]] topics:: [[Reactive]], [[Hypothesis]], [[Strategic-Thinking]], [[Problem-Solving]] Related | [[5.1 Impact Mapping Aligns Work with Outcomes]] -> In the same way that Impact Mapping makes us connect the dots between what we want to accomplish and what will cause it to happen, hypotheses make us connect the dots between what we believe and how we’ll know if it’s true. Both replace guesswork with traceable logic that ties action to outcome. ![[Footer]]