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Not-So-Dumb Project Management Questions

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The don't "rock the boat" mentality is killing projects. People need to speak up with their questions, especially the dumb ones. It just might lead to saving the project.

Back in 2006 I co-authored a paper titled Two Great Wastes. In it we explored how not speaking and not listening were creating great waste on projects and organizations. I've addressed these wastes in a number of blog posts. Recently, I realized just how insidious not speaking is. It doesn't just take having a good question, it takes courage to ask the question that we have. With this little exercise, I hope to offer the encouragement to break the silence. I invite you to help me.

Top 42 Not-So-Dumb Project Management Questions

to keep you and your project out of trouble

Please help me select the top 42 "dumb" project management questions. These are the questions that usually go unasked, yet when someone has the courage to ask, the project is better for it. The questions were submitted by the readers of Reforming Project Management with the exception of the 10 that I originally posted.

Vote the questions up, or down. We are starting with 45 questions. You are also welcome to add to the list.

1

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Why do you say that?

6 points

2

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Do you know what done looks like?

6 points

3

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When will that be done?

6 points

4

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Who has a different opinion?

5 points

5

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What have I forgotten to ask?

5 points

6

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Is anyone uncomfortable with any aspect of this?

5 points

7

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What are the facts that support your statement?

4 points

8

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Why/Why not?

Useful for getting to the root of problems (the 5 more...4 points

9

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Why do we need to do that?

Related: what happens if we don't do that?4 points

10

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Why is it so complicated?

4 points

11

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Who's going to do it?

4 points

12

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Who's going to pay for it?

4 points

13

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Do you have any worries or concerns with respect to X?

for risk identification (one dumb question)4 points

14

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What does this mean to you?

4 points

15

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Who else should we bring into this discussion?

4 points

16

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(to crew members) are you enjoying working on this project?

reveal immanent malaise - anything less than an en more...4 points

17

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Can we trust him/her?

3 points

18

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Can we still finish when promised?

3 points

19

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Is that what the client wants?

3 points

20

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What is the next safety incident that is going to happen on this project?

3 points

21

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Are our tasks aligned with the project objective?

3 points

22

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Is my understanding, team's understanding and customer's understanding about the project is same?

3 points

23

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Would it put the project objectives or part of them in danger?

3 points

24

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So, if we need to act, what do we do?

3 points

25

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... and today, do you have any new worries or concerns with respect to X?

3 points

26

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Tell me about X. What does that entail?

3 points

27

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What do you think we're missing?

3 points

28

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Do the crew understand what good looks/feels/sounds like?

to check the crew understand Conditions of Satisfa more...3 points

29

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Is that legal?

2 points

30

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Where will you (we) find the time to do that?

2 points

31

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Do you feel good about this project%u2026.personally?

2 points

32

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Where are you going to get the additional resources you need?

2 points

33

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Do you think we'll exceed the budget?

2 points

34

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Why are you concerned/worried? because of a past experience, a current state of affairs or an intuition about possible future events?

for reality checking (little Ishikawa process here more...2 points

35

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What happens if we do nothing with respect to this concern?

2 points

36

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Who is responsible to do it and report on it?

2 points

37

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Does/will our mitigation plan work?

if not, what do we do now?2 points

38

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Can you explain how you are going to solve this?

Can you explain that to me?
Can you explain X? and more...2 points

39

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How can we avoid having another meeting on this topic?

2 points

40

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I know you don't know, but if you did know, what would the answer be?

This helps get over the pressure of the answer hav more...2 points

41

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Are we making money?

1 point

42

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Is that so?

1 point

43

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What are you not saying COS you are afraid of looking a fool, being seen as a wimp,...?

1 point

44

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If we do nothing, how fast can we be endangered?

1 point

45

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What is the probabilty this thing could happen if we do nothing?

1 point

46

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What reports are you using now that you'll need with the new system?

1 point

47

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Is there anything bothering you?

1 point

48

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Does anyone have any questions?

1 point

49

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Who is the client?
Is the client committed to the success more...1 point

50

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Is there any flexibility in our definition of success?

0 points

What will I do with this list?

I'll be writing follow-up text for each of the selected questions. The list will appear as an appendix in a book I'm writing.

Reforming Project Management

The magazine for the project age.

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Read more about asking not-so-dumb questions.

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What are you doing to get more not-so-dumb questions?

I've found that people either just don't have the courage to speak up or they've gotten used to no one listening, so they don't bother. Others have told me that in some cases it is down right unsafe to say what's on your mind. Better keep quiet and look like a dunce than to open your mouth and give everyone the evidence.

What can you offer to those wondering what to do?

Do you encourage asking dumb questions?

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Yes. This how...

mngrpro says:

My confidence encourage me to ask any dumb question in favore of project. I believe that I am asking about my project only.

Posted April 11, 2010

managementmana says:

Yeah, I want to save the project which I deal.

Posted April 11, 2010

blddecision says:

Sometimes I have go with some dumb question because I wish start anything after understanding all about it.

Posted April 04, 2010

No. This is why...

projectfeasibility says:

I have no access till to senior management. So, I never try to go with asking dumb questions. I would like to stay with blowing air.

Posted April 29, 2010

 

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