1. Heilmeier's catechism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Heilmeier
To evaluate research activities at Darpa, Heilmeier formulated a set of questions that so well expresses the fundamentals of his beliefs that he seriously refers to it as his "catechism." He later taught it to his research "novitiates" at Texas Instruments and now enforces its use at Bellcore. Like a preflight checklist, his catechism provides a routine for safely and successfully launching a research project:
What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
How is it done today, and what are the limitations 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?
Heilmeier attributes much of his success to his imposition of a disciplined thought process on project management. It allowed him to curb and clarify both the enthusiasms of his researchers and the resource demands of his managers.
"Profession/Profile: George H. Heilmeier" article by Joshua Shapiro in “IEEE Spectrum” 1994 June, as summarized at

2. What are you trying to do?
Build a secure, wireless VOIP phone

3. Cellphones use phone network
How is it done today, and what are the limitations of current practice?
Cellphones use phone network
Circuit-switched
Limited B/W
Do not provide end-to-end encryption

4. What’s new in your approach, and why do you think it will be successful?
Use end-to-end cryptography between equipped microprocessors embedded in a “handset”
Widespread deployment of

5. Who cares? If you’re successful, what difference will it make?
People interested in mobile telephones with high privacy and low cost of service
Convergence towards IP bearer service

6. How much will it cost? How long will it take?
Parts cost ca. $1000 (in 2001)
Open source software (e.g., Blowfish)
9 month (senior design…)

7. What are the risks? Too much work, e.g., unavailable SW or components
Not enough time
Team capabilities
Technical risks

8. What are the midterm and final “exams” to check for success?
Establish basic connection with software December
Phone-phone call in April
Win Senior Design contest!

9. RESULTS!
“Secure Wireless Voice over IP”, M. DeYoung, N. Henke, G. Wai won award in SEAS ‘02 senior design; “Rethinking Mobile Telephony with the IMP” published w/Smith in ‘04!