It all starts with the Heilmeier Questions:
1. What are you trying to do?
2. How does this get done at present? Who does it? What are the limitations of present approaches?
- Are you aware of the state-of-the-art and have you thoroughly thought through all the options?
3. What is new about your approach? Why do you think you can be successful at this time?
- Given that you've provided clear answers to 1 & 2, have you created a compelling option?
- What does first-order analysis of your approach reveal?
4. If you succeed, what difference will it make?
- Why should we care?
5. How long will it take? How much will it cost? What are your mid-term and final exams?
- What is your program plan? How will you measure progress? What are your milestones/metrics? What is your transition strategy?
