16 Questions to Ask When Evaluating New Project Requests

Shubhangi Pandey
By | Updated May 1, 2025 | 3 min read
evaluating new project requests

Without a strong project request management process,  your organization is likely not working on the right projects at the right time. Limited resources and funding make this even more difficult.

Creating a fair and objective selection process isn’t easy, but these 16 practical questions can help you get started.

What is Project Request Management?

Project Request Management allows organizations to choose projects that support their strategic goals. It ensures that resources and funding go to the right initiatives at the right time. An effective process makes it easier to manage and review incoming proposals and decide which ones will deliver real value.

It also helps project teams spot duplicate requests before time and effort are wasted. Projects that don’t align with company strategy can be filtered out early, keeping the focus on high-impact work.

Another key benefit is stronger alignment between IT teams and business stakeholders. This improves communication and helps everyone stay on the same page as the project moves forward.

16 Useful Questions for Evaluating New Project Requests

Below are some suggested criteria to standardize new project requests. A Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tool like BrightWork 365 can help integrate these into your request process.

  1. What is the project type: mandatory, regulatory, maintenance, enhancement, business growth, innovation, and current project priority?
  2. Is the project clearly aligned with strategic goals?
  3. Is there a business case (if one exists, it should be linked) with an estimated Return on Investment (ROI)?
  4. What are the identified business benefits?
  5. What are the measurable business benefits?
  6. How feasible is the project?
  7. Is there enough stakeholder support?
  8. Is the project complex or high-risk?
  9. Do the risks outweigh the benefits?
  10. Is the risk management process clearly defined?
  11. Are the project deliverables, timelines, and scope realistic?
  12. Are the project requirements clearly defined?
  13. What are the resource requirements?
  14. Are there any dependencies on other projects?
  15. What is the estimated duration of the project?
  16. What is the estimated project budget required?

 

Take the Next Step with BrightWork 365

Asking the right questions early on helps your team evaluate project requests more effectively. A consistent, structured project management reduces confusion, limits scope creep, and sets your team up for successful project delivery.

BrightWork 365 makes it easy to standardize your project request process. With built-in templates, automated workflows, and reporting tools, BrightWork 365 helps project managers and teams assess, prioritize, and track new requests from start to finish. Watch our demo to get started today.

Shubhangi Pandey
Shubhangi Pandey

BrightWork Content Marketer

Shubhangi is a product marketing enthusiast, who enjoys testing and sharing the BrightWork 365 project portfolio management solution capabilities with Microsoft 365 users. You can see her take on the experience of the template-driven BrightWork 365 solution, its unique project management success approach, and other personalized services across the site and social channels. Beyond BrightWork, Shubhangi loves to hunt for the newest Chai Latte-serving café, where she can read and write for hours.

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