Top 10 Dumb Project Management Questions

by Hal on February 5, 2009

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Cliches become cliches because there's so much truth in them that they are spoken so frequently. We've all heard, "The only dumb question is the one you didn't ask." But, do you? Ask, that is? Or like most of us at some time or another, are you as afraid as me to look stupid in front of others? Thought so.

Dumb questions are good project controls.

Seth Freeman, writing in USA Today, 1-13-2009, says Ask the 'dumb' questions.

"Danger," he says, "lies in the fear of asking questions. That fear is helping to ruin people and destroy our economy."

Wow. He blames investors (and the SEC?) for Bernie Madoff's long-running Ponzi scheme. One question is all anyone need ask, "What were the trades that allowed you to make money regardless of how the market moved?" Any large fund exercising due diligence and prudence on behalf of its members should have asked that question and deserved an answer. Even the SEC could have asked that question and got an answer. But no one risked asking that dumb question? So what does this have to do with projects? Dumb questions are good project controls. So, let's look at some of the dumb questions we need to ask.

In Letterman order,

Is that so?
What are the facts that back up your statement?
Is that what the client wants?
Why do you say that?
Who has a different opinion?
Where will you find the time to do that?
Can we still finish when we promised?
Are we making money?
Can we trust him?

And the number one 'dumb' question is,

Is that legal?

You'll sleep better by asking the dumb questions

Are you ready? To ask dumb questions? Good. Your project team, your client and your firm need that from you. Protection is not guaranteed. You do this at your own risk. But believe me, you will sleep better as the result.

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Claude Emond February 6, 2009 at 6:42 am: here’s my dumbest question Hal. My number one:

Do you feel good about this project….personally ?

Will ask all the time to every single stakeholder !

Salut !
2 Alan mossman February 6, 2009 at 8:13 am: Cluade’s question would have been one of my supplementaries too. it is a good question to ask of crews as they leave site on a Friday afternoon. Any hesitation and there is probably an issue brewing somewhere. Best to ni it in the bud now.

my other candidate – and perhaps this should be near the bottom of Hal’s list -
“what the next accident that is going to happen on this project?”

most people know even if the don’t speak out.

So there is another question – “what are you not saying ‘COS you are afraid of looking a fool, being seen as a wimp, …..?”

enuf from me.

looking forward to seeing your contribution – yes YOU

thanks for reading

with best wishes

Alan
3 Byggestyring February 9, 2009 at 2:11 am: thanks for sharing!
4 Pawel Brodzinski February 9, 2009 at 7:54 am: These questions can be a very good indicator for project team (aka asking people) what’s the management approach to different things. When I hear about situations where people don’t trust their management most of the time above questions would reveal there’s something wrong within the organization. As far as there’s no trust between management and the rest of people there aren’t any good answers to these questions.

That’s just another reason to ask them.
5 Project Recruitment February 12, 2009 at 5:17 am: The joy of project management and project teams!

Try this one: “Do you think we’ll exceed the budget”?

Baz
6 Dave Jaques February 13, 2009 at 10:20 am: Do you know what done looks like?

Where are you going to get the additional resources you need?
7 Winston Barlow March 4, 2009 at 11:10 am: I’ve just been reading this case study about IT project management: http://www.impactexecutives.com/for-clients/client-successes/it-project-management.html. I think too many dumb questions had already been asked, that’s why they needed an interim manager to help their company.
8 Project Management October 24, 2009 at 6:06 am: Thanks for sharing these questions and info.
9 Arras People January 14, 2011 at 11:06 am: Just stumbled across this – when working in a PMO the most frequently asked dumb question seemed to be; “You agreed to do WHAT?”

Thanks for the smile on a Friday afternoon!
Cheers Lindsay