Getting focused on the problem to be solved and establishing what a solution will be worth are critical to success. Examining what assumptions we’ve made on all aspects of the effort and ensuring we form a plan to confirm their validity are all part of concept development. Not all assumptions can be confirmed at the early stages and new assumptions will be made as we proceed, so this activity will continue through the entire project. Similarly, risks should be documented at this early stage, reviewed and amended through the project life-cycle. Risk assessment is a vital tool for maximizing project success. Questions to be answered at this stage and include:
- What is the problem?
- Who owns the problem and how is it addressed today?
- How will our solution improve the situation?