There is a meaning to life. If you have a religious or scientific point of view, there is a way we're all going. There's some purpose to what we do. And that's nice. The days that we did something just because someone told us to do so, are over, I hope.

All activities should have a goal they support. And, even better, a goal that is seen as useful and achievable. Digging a hole, so another poor fool can fill it again, is a goal, but fails the other criteria. You may laugh at this, and wave it away as trivia and as a far stretch from reality. You poor soul, you are probably not long out of reality back here in the asylum.

Projects, being a collection of activities, have goals. They should be the answer to every 'why'-question about the project. Reviewing several projects, you will probably find some statements about the goals to be achieved. I'm sure searching information about the cause of the project however, will give you less data. And it's the cause that provides you with some hint about the usefulness of the goals. It can give insight on dependencies with other projects; so you can avoid another project filling the hole you just dug.

The following questions may give you a start in your search for the answer on the big WHY:

• What strategic decision lead to this project?
• How does this project relate to the business plan?
• Is this project the follow up of another project?
• What will be done with the results of this project?
• What will happen if this project doesn't happen?
• Is this project related to other projects that take place in the same time frame?
• Does the competition address the same issues taken on by this project?
• Why was such a project not performed earlier?

Related links

Tool Tip: Communicating The Bigger Picture
Return Of The Project Goals Video