ANSWER

Business analysts can uncover hidden assumptions by applying structured analysis techniques that expose the reasoning beneath surface-level explanations.

Common methods include:

• Root Cause Analysis – tracing recurring problems to systemic causes

• The Five Whys – repeatedly asking “why” to reveal underlying logic

• Business Rules Analysis – identifying outdated policies disguised as constraints

• Context Diagrams – questioning whether system boundaries are still valid

In addition, brainstorming, mind mapping, and scenario analysis can help teams articulate beliefs they didn’t realize they held.  By making implicit assumptions explicit, analysts prevent new systems from being built on old thinking.

Uncovering hidden assumptions is the first step toward a true paradigm shift—the moment when a team stops tweaking existing structures and starts designing a better one.