Electronic – Assumptions when designing an amplifier

You cannot make both assumptions about \$V_{ce} = 0.2V\$ and \$\beta = 100\$ at the same time; they are for two different modes of operation for the transistor (there's also a third mode where the transistor is in cutoff, and a fourth less common one in reverse active).

You start out assuming one of the possible states. For example, suppose I assume the transistor is saturated. Then \$V_{ce} = 0.2V\$ and \$V_{be} = 0.7V\$. You can then solve for base and collector currents using these assumptions for the BJT and only these assumptions.

The last step is to check your assumptions. For example, to make sure the transistor isn't actually in the linear active region must check that \$\beta I_{b} \gg I_{c}\$. So let's say in your case you get \$I_{c} = 9.8 mA\$ and \$I_{b} = 9.8 \mu A\$. Well clearly our assumption about saturation was bad because \$\beta I_{b} = 980 \mu A\$, which is less than our calculated \$I_{c}\$. We must then start over with new assumptions and re-solve the problem.

Instead, suppose \$I_b = 2 mA\$. Then \$\beta I_b = 200mA\$, which is much greater than \$I_c\$, so now the saturation assumption is correct.

Note: \$\beta I_b \gg I_c\$ is kind of a vague limit. Typically we use at least 10 times bigger for saturation.

For solving assuming the BJT is forward active, you would assume \$\beta I_b = I_c\$ and only this assumption. To check it (against saturation), simply make sure \$0.2V < V_{ce}\$.

In both cases, the output voltage is measured between 'ground' and whichever point has been defined as the output for that circuit configuration.
So in a common-emitter circuit (1), the output is defined as being at the collector.
But in a common-collector circuit (2), the output is defined as being at the emitter.
In the first circuit, R is not the load.
The load resistor is only present in circuit 2 to make analysis of it easier (since there would be undefined variables without it).