CHSCM 3.0 - Unit 1 - SCM in the Humanitarian World

Determining planning assumptions is an essential part of the planning process, as they provide a
basis for the setting of objectives. Typically, planners have little control over the conditions and
events about which they make assumptions, but they recognize that effective planning demands
that assumptions be articulated and considered as part of analyzing whether an activity will be
successful.
An assumption is a prediction, condition, or event which must exist if a project is likely to succeed,
i.e. meet its objectives.
Often, assumptions can be made subconsciously, which can lead to planning errors, particularly
oversights. The best practice is to document the assumptions that have been made so that they can
be challenged in the review of the plan.
The term scenario is useful for describing the body of assumptions which underlie a plan. Typically,
planners make assumptions about:
• Beneficiary numbers
• Government policy
• Role & contribution of partners
• Beneficiary attitudes
The scenario provides a bridge between the assessment and design of a project or operation. It
fixes the body of facts, analysis, and assumptions that allow the design process to begin.
A scenario is the group of planning assumptions planners have used to provide the basis for
developing a project, operation, or strategy.