VERITAS — ICT Hypothesis Validation
VERITAS — ICT Hypothesis Validation Method
Evidence-based decision-making for complex ICT challenges
The Problem
Every IT decision rests on assumptions. Should we migrate our ERP or upgrade it? Does analytics logic belong in the data warehouse or in the reporting tool? Do we need a cloud strategy or is on-premise sufficient?
In most organizations, these questions are answered by gut feeling, hierarchy, or the loudest voice in the room. The result: costly missteps, never-ending discussion loops, and projects that fail before they truly begin.
The Solution
VERITAS (Validation through Evidence-based Research of ICT Architecture & Strategy) is a structured consulting method that makes implicit assumptions explicit — and systematically tests them against evidence.
The core idea: Instead of spending months evaluating options, we formulate the assumptions behind the decision as testable hypotheses — and validate them through facts, industry research, and best practices.
How VERITAS Works
Phase 0 — Context
We capture the business and project context: existing systems, stakeholders, decision drivers, and any prior work already completed.
Phase 1 — Hypothesize
In a facilitated workshop, your decision-makers articulate the assumptions behind the pending decision — as precise, testable hypotheses. Typically 5–10.
Phase 2 — Research
Each hypothesis is individually researched: industry analyses, vendor documentation, academic studies, reference projects, and expert assessments.
Phase 3 — Evidence
From the research, we distill context-specific, quantified facts and findings — not opinions, but substantiated statements.
Phase 4 — Recommend
Each hypothesis receives a concrete, actionable recommendation backed by sources and best practice examples from comparable organizations.
Phase 5 — Open Items
What remains unclear is transparently documented. Honesty about knowledge gaps is a quality feature, not a shortcoming.
Phase 6 — Score
Each hypothesis is rated on two axes: Truth score (0–100) and Confidence in the assessment (0–100). This yields a clear traffic-light rating:
- Accepted — confirmed by evidence
- Split — mixed evidence
- Rejected — contradicted by evidence
- Inconclusive — insufficient data
Phase 7 — Synthesize
All results are consolidated into a decision brief: hypothesis overview with traffic-light system, conclusions, management summary, and concrete recommendations with a timeline.
When to Use VERITAS
- ERP decisions: Migrate or upgrade? Which vendor? Now or later?
- Cloud strategy: On-premise, public cloud, hybrid? Which provider?
- Architecture decisions: Monolith or best-of-breed? Make or buy?
- Analytics & BI: Reporting landscape consolidation, data warehouse strategy
- IT transformation: Digitalization strategy, technology roadmap validation
- Any ICT decision where stakeholders hold divergent views
The Value
| Without VERITAS | With VERITAS |
|---|---|
| Decisions based on gut feeling | Decisions based on evidence |
| Endless discussion loops | Structured process in 3–6 weeks |
| The loudest voice wins | Every assumption is treated equally |
| Implicit bias goes undetected | Assumptions become explicit and testable |
| Results are not traceable | Every recommendation is source-backed |
| Stakeholders feel sidelined | Everyone is involved in the workshop |
Results from Practice
ERP Decision — Manufacturing Company (Switzerland)
7 hypotheses validated. Result: No business case for migration exists. Upgrade is simpler, safer, cheaper, and faster. 3–6 months of evaluation effort saved.
Analytics Consolidation — Industrial Company (Switzerland)
10 hypotheses validated. 79 reports analyzed, 188 conflicting KPI definitions uncovered, 41% unused measures identified. Average truth score: 88/100 — the project’s strategic direction was fully confirmed and quantified for the first time with hard data.
Variants
| Variant | Duration | Hypotheses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 1–2 weeks | 3–5 | Smaller decisions, time-critical situations |
| Full | 4–8 weeks | 7–15 | Strategic decisions with high investment |
| Continuous | Ongoing | Rolling | Multi-year transformation programs |
The Deliverable
You receive a professional final presentation including:
- Executive Summary with traffic-light overview of all hypotheses
- Detailed assessment of each hypothesis (evidence, recommendations, open questions, scoring)
- Conclusions with prioritized action areas
- Management Summary with concrete recommendations and timeline
- Full source references for every claim
About the Method
VERITAS stands for Validation through Evidence-based Research of ICT Architecture & Strategy — and for the Latin word for truth. Because ICT decisions should be built on truth, not assumptions.
The method combines the rigor of scientific hypothesis validation with the pragmatism of management consulting. It was developed and proven in real-world ICT projects.
Interested? Get in touch with Florian Fahrenbach for an initial consultation.