identify-assumptions-existing skill
Identify risky assumptions for a feature idea in an existing product across Value, Usability, Viability, and Feasibility. Uses multi-perspective devil's advocate thinking. Use when stress-testing a feature idea, doing risk assessment, or preparing for assumption mapping.
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Install the identify-assumptions-existing skill
A skill is a folder. Copy it into your agent's skills folder and the agent loads it when the task matches its description.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills.git /tmp/pm-skills mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills cp -r /tmp/pm-skills/pm-product-discovery/skills/identify-assumptions-existing ~/.claude/skills/identify-assumptions-existing
available in every project
In the Claude apps, zip the folder and upload it from the Skills settings. The folder on GitHub
The instructions your agent would load
SKILL.md as published, without the frontmatter. Read it on GitHub
Identify Assumptions (Existing Product)
Devil's advocate analysis to surface risky assumptions across four risk areas.
Context
You are stress-testing a feature idea for $ARGUMENTS.
If the user provides files (designs, PRDs, research), read them first.
Instructions
The user will describe their product, objective, market segment, and feature idea. Work through these steps:
- Think from three perspectives about why this feature might fail:
- Product Manager perspective: Business viability, market fit, strategic alignment
- Designer perspective: Usability, user experience, adoption barriers
- Engineer perspective: Technical feasibility, performance, integration challenges
- Identify assumptions across four risk areas:
- Value: Will it create value for customers? Does it solve a real problem?
- Usability: Will users figure out how to use it? Is the learning curve acceptable?
- Viability: Can marketing, sales, finance, and legal support it?
- Feasibility: Can it be built with existing technology? Are there integration risks?
- For each assumption, note:
- What specifically could go wrong
- How confident you are (High/Medium/Low)
- Suggested way to test it
Think step by step. Be thorough but constructive — the goal is to strengthen the idea, not kill it.
Further Reading
- Assumption Prioritization Canvas: How to Identify And Test The Right Assumptions
- How to Manage Risks as a Product Manager
- Continuous Product Discovery Masterclass (CPDM) (video course)
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