Heilmeier's Catechism

This is a set of questions that I was unaware of until one of my professors at MIT mentioned it in a class. It's a good rubric for any project and I'm not sure why it is not more commonly known. Or perhaps it is and I'm just the last person to learn about it.

From the Wikipedia page: A set of questions credited to George H. Heilmeier that anyone proposing a research project or product development effort should be able to answer.

• What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
• 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 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?

Good questions to come back to on any serious project or research.