Question
What is hidden dependencies?
Quick Answer
An idea that looks like one thing is often several things fused together, each carrying unstated assumptions that silently constrain what you can do with it.
Example: You believe 'we should expand into the European market.' That single sentence bundles at least four assumptions: (1) there is demand in Europe for what you sell, (2) your product can be localized without fundamental redesign, (3) you have or can acquire the operational capacity to serve European customers, and (4) the regulatory environment permits your business model. If any one of these is wrong, the entire compound idea collapses — but you won't know which part failed because you never separated them.
This concept is part of Atomicity and Decomposition in the How to Think curriculum.
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