Guesswork-based

Guesswork-based refers to a method, system, or decision-making process that relies heavily on conjecture, estimations, and assumptions rather than on concrete data, thorough investigation, or established facts. It implies a degree of uncertainty and a potential for inaccuracy. Decisions based on guessworks often lack a solid foundation and are prone to errors or misinterpretations. The reliance on 'guesswork' usually arises when complete information is unavailable, making accurate predictions challenging. These types of methods may involve intuition, hunches, or informal estimations as the foundation of actions.

Guesswork-based meaning with examples

• The initial design of the bridge was largely guesswork-based, as soil samples were limited. This led to repeated revisions and a longer construction timeline. Engineers had to rely on approximate values for ground stability and structural loads, exposing the project to several costly delays. Furthermore, the safety of the bridge was questioned because of the uncertainties in material strength assessments due to lack of data. The final product showed some initial flaws which had to be corrected.
• The company's sales forecasting was sadly guesswork-based. They had no market analysis or past data, so estimates had been built on gut feeling and optimistic projections. This produced a severe inventory shortage of the most popular items, while causing a large backlog of unsold stock of less popular goods. This lack of predictive accuracy resulted in financial losses and damaged their reputation.
• When diagnosing the machine's problem, the technician took a guesswork-based approach. With no proper diagnostic tools, they swapped parts randomly, hoping to fix the issue. This was expensive and time-consuming, leading to wasted resources and the potential for further damage. The final fix was achieved through the application of known solutions, meaning that this kind of diagnostic did not offer a solution.
• In the initial stages of exploring the new territory, exploration strategies were guesswork-based. Their team depended on rudimentary maps and very unreliable information from local inhabitants. This made the planning of their route erratic and inefficient, leading to frequent detours. The crew became easily confused due to the lack of established landmarks, and could have exposed the team to hazards and delays.
• The initial budget allocation for the project was guesswork-based, as historical data were not readily available. This resulted in underfunding of crucial aspects. The budget was overestimated in some areas but significantly underestimated in others. Therefore, the team had to make unexpected cutbacks, reducing their capacity to produce the expected results, or even, worse, leading to a total collapse of the operation.