Identify Requirements
“Tell me again, what are we trying to do here?”

It feels somewhat obvious to say that knowing what you hope to accomplish within the confines of your project is the very first step toward success. However, it isn’t uncommon for projects to get well on their way without really knowing what they’re trying to do. Some projects even manage to launch without ever figuring this out. Most such projects don’t do well once they hit the marketplace, if they’re able to find a market at all.

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, “Which way should I go from here?” The Cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” When Alice confesses to not knowing where she wants to wind up, the Cat tells her that it then doesn’t matter which way she goes. This kind of thinking is unfortunately found in many organizations, companies, and projects. They don’t have an agreed-upon, or even a well-understood, destination, but they’re merrily marching along a road to somewhere.