Definitionv1DF-218
Load-bearing assumptions
early design decisions or foundational beliefs that a system or organization depends on so completely that removing them requires rebuilding everything constructed on top of them
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the technical term 'load-bearing assumptions' as used in the lesson, establishing it as a specific type of foundational belief or decision that has become so embedded in a system that its removal would require complete reconstruction. It distinguishes this from other types of assumptions by emphasizing the structural dependency and the massive cost of change, using language consistent with both software engineering and cognitive infrastructure concepts.