Heilmeier Catechism
March 30, 2013
The framework used by DARPA to evaluate whether a project is worth taking up
When faced with a new project proposal, every business has to decide whether the project is worth devoting its resources. Here is a popular to framework called Heilmeier Catechism to evaluate and decide this:
→ What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon. What is the problem? Why is it hard?
→ How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
→ What's new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
→ Who cares?
→ If you're successful, what difference will it make? What impact will success have? How will it be measured?
→ What are the risks and the payoffs?
→ How much will it cost?
→ How long will it take?
→ What are the midterm and final "exams" to check for success? How will progress be measured?
→ What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon. What is the problem? Why is it hard?
→ How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
→ What's new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
→ Who cares?
→ If you're successful, what difference will it make? What impact will success have? How will it be measured?
→ What are the risks and the payoffs?
→ How much will it cost?
→ How long will it take?
→ What are the midterm and final "exams" to check for success? How will progress be measured?