These are some of the critical questions you must ask (yourself OR others) at the onset of every new project:

1. What is the goal of the project?
2. Who are the stakeholders?
3. What are the project deliverables?
4. What is the project schedule?
5. What is the project budget?
6. What is the project scope?
7. What are the risks and potential problems?
8. Who is responsible for each task?
9. How will progress be monitored and reported?
10. What is the expected outcome of the project?