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Model / Deliver a Project / Set the Direction / Ask Why First
STEP 1 of 6

Ask Why First.

Get clear on why the work exists before planning how to do it.

After this step, you should be clearer on

  • —Why this work exists
  • —What problem it is really solving
  • —Whether it should move forward

This is a thinking step, not a documentation step. You are asking the simplest question: why are we doing this?

If no one can say why, keep asking.

Your main work on this step

Questions to reflect on

You do not need to complete everything. Use what helps.

Why does this work matter right now?

You are going to need support from the people who control money and resources. This is one of the most important first steps in any project, and one often missed.

  • What changes if this does not happen?
  • Who feels the pain most?
  • Why now, and not later?

Rough notes are fine.

If helpful, consider…

Describe what the project is trying to deliver, and why this matters to the people who can make or break it. For many projects, that includes senior management and finance.

  • What problem are we actually trying to solve?
  • What would success look like in simple terms?
  • What happens if we do nothing?

Rough notes are fine.

OptionalUse a Readiness Check to pause and reflect before moving on.

Readiness Check

Go deeper

Related Plays

Optional frameworks if you want more structure.

Create a Project Charter

Clarify what you are doing, why it matters, and what success needs to look like before you commit.

Explore Play

Define Project Success

Make success clear, measurable, and agreed early in Job 1 before the real work begins.

Explore Play

Ready to move on?

If you can explain why this work matters and what problem it solves, you are ready for the next step. You can always come back.

Next: Get Expert Guidance Return to Set the Direction

Confluity Project Model sitemap

Model overview

What are Jobs?

The model is organised into three Jobs:

Job 1: Set the Direction – shape the purpose into options and a preferred way forward.

Job 2: Prove It Works – test assumptions and reduce risk before going big.

Job 3: Make It Happen – deliver at scale and make sure people actually use what you build.

What are Simple Rules?

The model contains simple rules. These are short principles drawn from experience that help you make better decisions. Jobs, tasks, and plays help you put those rules into practice.

What is a Play?

A Play is a method or tool that helps you apply a rule or complete a task. Use the recommended Plays first for simpler projects before exploring others.

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