ESTIMATE OF THE SITUATION: SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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Source of Incentive for the Project or Incentive

• Why did this organization want to start this project?
• Who does the project benefit? In what ways?
• How will you know when the project achieves its ultimate goals?
• What does this organization expect to get from this project?

The Customer (Users and Specific Agencies)

• What was the customer's motive for funding work in this area?
• What are the customer's expectations for the product?
• What do you think the customer will do with the product? Will the customer put it on the shelf, or will they advocate its use within the organization?
• Is there a single proponent or a few proponents for this work, or is there a wide perception of need?
• How much input do you think the customer will have?
• Given the choice, which would you prefer: no customer input, or the customer leading the way with vast input?
• What have you promised this customer or our other customers?
• What are the customer's implicit understandings and assumptions?
• How much flexibility do we have against the defined requirements?

Project Mission Statement

• Who is our audience?
  • What are they like right now?
  • How will our final product delivery affect them?
  • In what ways can intermediate deliveries help?
• How do you expect the project mission to change over time?
• What other resources do you think the audiences will have/use?
• Do you expect our organization to use the product? If so, how and when?
• What other information from the project will our organization use?

Relationship of Project's Mission to Overall Organizational Goals

• Describe our organization if this project did not exist.
• How would our organization's ability to function be affected?
• How would our customers be affected?

Project Development (either inside the HS IT organization or the Contractor)

• Do you see us developing new processes (original thought) or merely documenting current practice?
• Given our resources, would you prefer to see original thought or document current practice?
• One position states that a generic model can be developed with modest tailoring required for each situation. A different position states that there are specific and unique models for each situation. What do you think?
• Do you think a generic model can be developed for all situations or for most situations?
• What do you see as the difference between our approach and other industry efforts?
• It seems that other projects have benefited from a consultant co-author. Do we obtain substantial added benefit in our customer's perception if we have strong ties with noted experts (e.g., hiring an expert to be a co-author or a distinguished reviewer)? At what point does the cost outweigh the benefit?
• Would you prefer to hire a co-author or a distinguished reviewer?
• What research sources for this technology do you think we should look into?
• What sources for successful applications of this technology should we look into?
• Name three other state organizations that you consider relatively successful in this area.

Project's Objectives-Economic

• How do you measure the economic benefit of the product?
  • What is a good goal for the economic value?
  • What is the effect of being above or below that goal?
  • How do you expect the goal to change in the future?
• What special concerns are there for specific programs within the HS Agency?
• How much is allocated for generating the product?
• How much reserve can be available?
• What competing needs do you see?
• How will reserves be allocated?

Project's Objectives-Noneconomic

• What capabilities should we provide in the product? What should we not provide?
• What promises were made about our capabilities? Who follows up on these promises?
• How do these capabilities enhance existing customer operations?
• Is there a potential for leveraging or coupling these capabilities?

Project Goals

• What do you think the product should look like at its first release?
• Given a smaller effort, how would you change the project's goals to increase the feasibility/probability of achieving the goals?
• Is the staffing level flexible? What kind of consulting is available?
• What do you see as the team's priority(ies) for the first product delivery? Rank the following:
  • On-time product delivery with barely adequate material
  • Slipped delivery with adequate material
  • Production of a draft product filled in during a follow-on phase
• How would you measure the economic benefit of the product?
• Is the economic benefit different for this customer then for other potential customers?
• What minimum economic benefit is considered successful after the product is delivered?
• What should be our goal?

Significant Elements of the Project-Constraints and Opportunities

• What could keep the project from succeeding? How likely is this to happen?
• What specific promises did we make regarding the project or the product?
• Who will be checking on each promise?
• Can we substitute items of "equivalent value"?
• How were the budget, resource, and product definitions decided?
• How realistic do you think they are?
• If there is a problem, how flexible are the budget and resources?
• How flexible is the product specification (e.g., content, quality, and schedule)?
• What additional benefits should the project try to obtain?

Significant Elements of the Project-Assumptions

• What are the main sources of information the project should use?
• How reliable/complete is this information?
• How do you know that the product will be valuable?
• Can you think of any ways in which that value can be increased?
• Why do you think the project is feasible?
• Has your view changed since the last time we spoke?

Our Organization

• What does our organization expect to get from this project?
• What is our relationship to other projects within our organization? Which projects are included, and what type of relationship do we have?
• Who do you perceive to be the subject matter experts in our organization?

Use

• Is there a perceived need among our other customers for this product? What about our other potential customers? Do you see a real need?
• Who do you see as the primary audience(s) for this product? Who is going to use the product?
• How do you see the product helping them?

Relationship to Other Projects and Parties Involved in the Project

• How does this project affect others in our organization?
  • Who is affected?
  • Are they expecting to use outputs? What if we're late?
  • Do they need to adjust their goals to fit ours?
• Who in our organization is most directly concerned with the project's outcome?
• What kinds of briefings will be necessary? Who is the audience?
• How does this project affect our customer's projects?
• What other projects must be considered in our planning?
• What projects will provide input for or review the product?
• What criteria will they use?
• Which individuals must agree before the product can be shipped?
• Who will they turn to for advice?
• Who in the customer organization will provide input for this project?

General Competitive Situation

• How well can our customers (or potential customers) independently develop similar capabilities?
• Who are the nearest competitors for our product?
• If there are no competitors, why is the marketplace not providing equivalent products?
• When and under what circumstances would you expect that to change?

Summary of Key Points

• If you were running the project, what approaches would you consider?
• Who else could contribute insight into this project?
• What other questions should I ask you?

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