Periodic reassessment
Periodic reassessment involves deliberately questioning assumptions and things taken for granted, even without a specific need, to encourage new perspectives.
THE IDEA
Periodic reassessment
Periodic reassessment means looking again at things which are taken for granted, things which seem beyond doubt. Periodic reassessment means challenging all assumptions. It is not a matter of reassessing something because there is a need to reassess it; there may be no need at all. It is a matter of reassessing something simply because it is there and has not been assessed for a long time. It is a deliberate and quite unjustified attempt to look at things in a new way.
When to use it
A company conducting a 'zero-based budgeting' exercise, starting from scratch to justify every expense.
A scientist revisiting a long-accepted theory in light of new data, even if the theory is widely believed.
An educator periodically redesigning course content to ensure it remains relevant and challenges students' core assumptions.
A manager questioning the necessity of a standing weekly meeting that has been running for years without review.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Quarterly product feature audit
A software company schedules a quarterly review of all legacy features, questioning whether each still serves a purpose or if it can be removed, regardless of current user complaints.
Reexamining personal habits
An individual takes a day every year to list all recurring routines (e.g., checking email first thing, commuting route) and asks why they do them, even if the routines seem efficient.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
What is one belief or practice you have held for years that you have never critically examined?
How might your team or organization benefit from scheduling a 'reassessment day' for processes that are currently working?
What would happen if you challenged the underlying assumptions of a decision you made recently, even if it turned out well?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)