Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Using Hypothesis-Driven Thinking in Stra...

Liedtka, Jeanne M.

Technical Note

Using Hypothesis-Driven Thinking in Strategy Consulting (FRENCH)

Liedtka, Jeanne M.

BP-0565 | Published November 16, 2019 | 9 pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

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This is a French translation of the March 20, 2006 version of UVA-BP-0486. This technical note describes the process of hypothesis-driven thinking, using examples from strategy consulting, medicine, and architecture. Associated with the scientific method, hypothesis-driven thinking focuses on the creative generation of alternative hypotheses and on their subsequent validation or refutation through the use of data. Hypothesis generation asks the creative question, "What if ...?" Hypothesis testing follows with "If ..., then ..." and brings relevant data to bear on the analysis. Taken together, and repeated over time, this sequence allows us to pose ever-improving hypotheses without forfeiting the ability to explore new ideas.