--- title: Manage hypotheses slug: collaboration/docs/manage-hypotheses docTags: createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:09.814Z --- You accomplish work through hypotheses in Collaboration. Each hypothesis moves through a workflow from creation to completion. ## Create a hypothesis Click **+** and select **Hypothesis **from the drop-down list. ![create](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/xFhZzmUNd3vktD1hsHPHP-20260720-150245.png) You can add details, including **Titles**, **Campaign**, **Start Date**, **Due Date**, **Workflow**, and **Fields**. Learn more about [fields](docId\:rOS7iwGbM6fB7vBXRQR8W). You can apply the hypothesis to the most appropriate campaign and select from a drop-down list of workflows. Click **Create** to create the hypothesis. ![create](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/67r_oJ4TaxidCz0T0Z2nU-20260720-150245.png) The new hypothesis page displays and has the following tabs: - [Brief](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) – Select a hypothesis brief template or write a brief to apply a structured test plan. - [Variations](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) – Upload images or add links to live web pages for on-screen commenting and annotations. You can also use the text editor.  - [Experiment](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) – Click [Link Experiment ](docId\:iN5OAGPyb6fufERty75Xv)to select an experiment to link this hypothesis to. Or, select **Add Manual Experiment **to enter the experiment details manually. - [Fields](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) – [Update or add fields](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) to provide more metadata about this hypothesis for better organization and searchability. - [History](docId\:HuYsSt8ACr6_aKr1yucCu) – Provides an audit trail of interactions within the hypothesis over time. *Who* took *what* actions *when* is provided in an easy-to-read timeline format that corresponds with changes made in the hypothesis over time. :::hint{type="success"} **Beta** Linking experiments from Optimizely Feature Experimentation to a Collaboration hypothesis is in beta. Contact your Customer Success Manager for information. ::: ### Create a hypothesis in a campaign You can create hypotheses from each campaign, and Collaboration helps reduce the time it takes to set up hypotheses and ensure they are consistently tagged. On the **Activities** tab of a campaign, select **Add** > **Hypothesis**. ![add](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/3xWHQNsQNY8dUom-zRO3I-20260720-150245.png) Enter the hypothesis title, select a workflow for the hypothesis, and define a due date. The most recently created hypotheses are displayed at the top of the list in the **Activities** tab of the campaign. You can view, access, and manage content and non-content hypotheses your campaign depends on directly from this view. You can also get a visual display for the timing and due dates of campaign activity by using the visual and timeline calendars in the **Plan** view. ### Create a hypothesis from the List view  In the **Plan** view, the **List** view lets you create hypotheses and events to display upcoming activity dates. To create a hypothesis in the **List** view, click **+** and select **Hypothesis**. ![create](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/SgnqmcxBdQyXPNy7BWW4p-20260720-150245.png) ## Add a hypothesis brief On the **Brief** tab, upload files or enter a hypothesis description to encourage collaborative brainstorming and ensure that creators have information (such as key objectives, audiences, and pillars) before they begin work. You can add a brief in several ways. ![new](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/qIZDQJuiWeiJ86fC0XztX-20260720-150245.png) - **Brief Template** – Click **Brief Template** to select from saved templates. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/u38Sq_7MtBGxJm3NzMUNW-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="select" isUploading="false" showCaption="false" width="573" height="530" darkWidth="573" darkHeight="530"} :::Paragraph{indent="1"} A template is displayed to help you get started. ::: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/ONztluhGfW0-F6szM__Gi-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="brief" isUploading="false" showCaption="false" width="584" height="430" darkWidth="584" darkHeight="430" indent="2"} :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="2"} **Upload** – Select **Upload**. You can connect to your Microsoft 365 OneDrive Account to upload a brief from there in one of the following formats: ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} Word ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} PowerPoint ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} Excel ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} PDF ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} Video (MOV, MP4) ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} Image Files (JPEG, GIF, SVG, and BMP) ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} Figma ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="3"} InVision ::: :::hint{type="info" indent="3"} **Note** Unsupported files display a "no preview" icon but remain available to download. ::: :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="2"} **Add URL** – Enter the URL to a file on Google, Figma, Milanote, or a non-gated website. ::: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/UGgsp4k5_aHR6lXT5dmtD-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="add" isUploading="false" showCaption="false" width="600" height="584" darkWidth="600" darkHeight="584" indent="3"} :::Paragraph{listStyleType="disc" indent="2"} **Write Brief** – Click **Write Brief** and type a brief in the online text editor. You can select text and click **AI** to receive refinement suggestions. While you write a brief, the text editor autosaves the draft. However, if you try to go to any other module while writing the brief, an alert warns that you have unsaved changes and asks if you want to discard the changes. Click **Save **when you are done. ::: :::hint{type="success"} **Note** If you use Opti ID, administrators can turn off generative AI in the Opti ID Admin Center. See [Turn generative AI off across Optimizely applications](https://app.archbee.com/docs/LY6qK1Tfwiwdl5TcCMAyB/X5U0kKD2azV5cIdNqwGNj#-MBPK) Otherwise, an administrator can toggle generative AI availability on or off for all users of an instance from the avatar > **Mark & AI**. See [Apply organizational settings in Collaboration](docId:-XPnSOKbF1qANjaJLa2CN) ::: ## Add variations **Variations** let you add proposed experiment variations and collect feedback from your team. To create a new variation, go to the **Variations** tab and click **Add Variation**. Add variation content from the following: - **Your Device** - **Text Editor** – You can select text and click **AI** to receive refinement suggestions.  - **Add URL** :::hint{type="success"} **Note** If you use Opti ID, administrators can turn off generative AI in the Opti ID Admin Center. See [Turn generative AI off across Optimizely applications](https://app.archbee.com/docs/LY6qK1Tfwiwdl5TcCMAyB/X5U0kKD2azV5cIdNqwGNj#-MBPK) Otherwise, an administrator can toggle generative AI availability on or off for all users of an instance from the avatar > **Mark & AI**. See [Apply organizational settings in Collaboration](docId:-XPnSOKbF1qANjaJLa2CN) ::: :::hint{type="warning"} **Important** Mark Administrators must grant users access to Mark. Mark is enabled by default for eligible customers. Users do not have access until an administrator enables it for each individual using Opti ID. For steps, see [Get started with Mark for administrators](docId\:pe0pbUJveWrG8ewvZWDRE). You must enable third-party cookies in your browser to use Mark in CMP. Mark fails to load if you disable third-party cookies. Incognito and private browsing modes disable third-party cookies by default. Do not use incognito mode to access Mark or manually enable third-party cookies. To enable cookies in your browser, see the following documentation: - [Google Chrome](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416) - [Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-cookies-in-microsoft-edge-view-allow-block-delete-and-use-168dab11-0753-043d-7c16-ede5947fc64d) - [Mozilla Firefox](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/third-party-cookies-firefox-tracking-protection) - [Safari](https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/enable-cookies-ibrw850f6c51/mac) ::: ![add-variation.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/5MrhR30b23eo7BvBUtKqN-20260720-150245.png) Some examples of content to add to the variations tab include: - Images of final mockups of the different variations. - Design specifications files. - Text explaining the different variations. - URLs of updated pages. ## Link experiments The **Experiment** tab lets you [link an experiment to your hypothesis](docId\:iN5OAGPyb6fufERty75Xv). Alternatively, you can manually add your experiment start and end dates and a URL reference to where the experiment is configured. Go to **Experiment** and click **Link Experiment** or **Add Manual Experiment**. ![link experiment view.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/LpI9-mIUBsadEbMteqwSB-20260720-150245.png) ## Add fields to the hypothesis Fields and field values may automatically populate from the campaign or brief. If your hypothesis has a workflow, only the fields defined in that workflow display. You can go to the **Fields **tab and add new fields for the hypothesis by selecting **Add Fields**. You can click **Create New** to create a field and then add it. ![add](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/DnNV-d8WhYMqBU6UJ2jjK-20260720-150245.png) For single-select fields, you can keep the values they inherit from the selected workflow or opt for the ones they inherit from the chosen campaign. For multi-select fields, the values are merged. You can also set up mandatory fields for their tasks during the hypothesis creation or completion. ## Managing workflow dates ### Forward and backward scheduling Workflows have forward and backward scheduling logic so that when a **Hypothesis Start Date**,** Hypothesis Due** **Date**, or **Step Due Date** is changed, you can update only that date or all subsequent dates by the same number of business days. - Forward and backward scheduling triggers and automatically applies durations when due dates are assigned to steps (or if durations are already applied in the workflow settings). ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/WPnL0euxOi2h7RkZ4vrEn-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="workflow" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} - When you apply durations, users can update the date for the particular step or the other steps based on how many *business* *days* the date has moved forward or back. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/zqqFZGWVKHrRdYQc2HPqv-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="change" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} - If you want to update other steps, you can manually adjust or assign dates on the page. You can only manually adjust dates in order with the rest of the workflow. You cannot edit the other dates. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/dmc5FHeT1w2TWRhUSLynq-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="change" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} - Completed or skipped steps do not impact the due date. If you choose to undo a completed or skipped step and that date is out of order, the original due date is removed so you can apply a new due date. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/0li0lytimEUAbKoy6ZELj-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="change" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} ### Update hypothesis start date and due date Forward and backward scheduling applies for **Hypothesis Start** and **Hypothesis Due Date**. You can set the hypothesis start date or hypothesis due date from the hypothesis window. Click the dates to change them to your preference.  ![change](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/93QfwzTdY8DAQOwHhzluF-20260720-150245.png) After you set the date, click **Save**. ### Smart durations If you activate **Smart Durations** for the workflow from the settings page, the due dates of subsequent steps and the hypothesis move backward or forward by the number of business days the previous step was delayed or completed earlier. For information, see [Manage Workflows](docId\:z4qRq7wJIEQt3sS3PK_jn). If the hypothesis has other dependent hypotheses, then smart durations trigger a window to select the date changes for the dependent hypotheses. ## Comment on a hypothesis - Click **Comments** on the hypothesis page to post comments. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/fxTnhpG4NOaQoyObsqTQv-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="comment" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} - Click **Add comment** on a step, then enter a comment in the comment box. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/b9XoAVr3OqY09_yOb_f01-20260720-150245.png" size="100" alt="comment" isUploading="false" showCaption="false"} Select the option from the context menu (...) to **Edit** and **Delete** your comments on the hypothesis page. Click **Show Resolved** to display the comments that are marked as **Resolved**. ## Watch or unwatch the hypothesis In the new hypothesis view, you can add relevant users as a watcher or watch the hypothesis yourself. Use the eye icon on the hypothesis page's top right corner. Click **Manage Watchers**, a drop-down list displays from which you can **Start Watching**, **Stop Watching**, or search and select another watcher. ![add](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/T6eZktUBT-Dh7leOwM7m6-20260720-150245.png) When you try to add users as a watcher, but they do not have access to the hypothesis, you can provide them with **Edit**, **View**, or **Comment **access to that hypothesis. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Only **Edit** and **View** access to the hypothesis lets the user receive all types of notifications associated with the hypothesis. ::: Click **x** beside another user to remove them as a watcher. You can view and update your notification settings by selecting the **Notifications **tab on your [profile](https://app.welcomesoftware.com/cloud/settings/user). To go to your profile, select your profile image in the upper right, then select your name.  ![notifications.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/NO8nCtCcewFuNBEwDB5x5-20260720-150245.png) :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Assignees to the hypothesis are the default watchers and have edit access. ::: ## View hypothesis history Each hypothesis has a **History **tab that provides a detailed activity log of work in the hypothesis to maintain end-to-end visibility, displaying who made what changes and why. ![hypothesis](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/QTBaj0pkhtKYF4GsAFb0o-20260720-150246.png) Actions captured within the **History **tab include: - Changes to hypothesis title or brief. - Changes to workflows (such as step owner, step status, and due dates). - Added or resolved comments (within hypothesis or individual piece of content). - Changes to hypothesis **Labels** or **Custom Fields**. - Uploads, downloads, and added attachments. ## Delete a hypothesis To delete a hypothesis, select the context menu (...) and click **Delete**. Confirm your deletion. ## Restore a hypothesis from the Recycling bin Admins can restore a deleted hypothesis or hypothesis content, such as files, images, or URLs, from the recycle bin. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** You can restore hypotheses and hypothesis content from the recycle bin up to 60 days after initially deleting them. ::: To restore a hypothesis or hypothesis content from the Recycle Bin: 1. Go to your avatar > **Recycle Bin**. 2. You can search for your hypothesis by its title. 3. Click **Restore**.  ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/rjHj9VJBpX-X_xmd604Du-20260720-150246.png) When you restore a hypothesis' content, it displays as an update to the [hypothesis' History](../../content-marketing-platform/tasks-and-workflows/manage-tasks.mdx) tab in the hypothesis in which it was created. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/zM8FF3CQ8yLOldIN0Usby-20260720-150246.png)