IDENTIFYING THE GOAL

Step 1 clearly identifies the goal. In the race to the South Pole between Scott and Amundsen (Huntford, 1993), Amundsen's goal was identified from the outset: he intended to be the first man to stand at the South Pole. Scott's aims were much more diffuse. His expedition was going to be a scientific one; the Pole was a sideshow. His team would do the scientific work; they would also handle the Pole as and when it came up. Indeed, when Scott discovered that Amundsen was heading south, he disdained any intention of taking part in a race. As project leader of this project, Scott was sending conflicting messages both to himself and to his team. Either the Pole was a goal or it wasn't. If it was, then a project had to be started. If not, then the scientific work was the only project.