8 Question Structures
🔑 Eight structures to ask about anything (daily in standups, sprint reviews, and onboarding):
- What is…? – “What’s our sprint goal?”
- Are we + ING? – “Are we using React for this?”
- How do we…? – “How do we manage dependencies?”
- How often do we…? – “How often do we run security audits?”
- How long does it take…? – “How long does it take to deploy?”
- Can/Could you tell me…? – “Could you tell me about our QA process?”
- What [technology] do we use? – “What version control system do we use?”
- Is there/Are there…? – “Are there blockers this sprint?”
Examples of questions
I. Project Requirements Questions
🔑 These questions use open-ended structures (e.g., “What’s the timeline…?”) to elicit detailed responses, avoiding yes/no traps. Common pitfalls: Overusing “focus on” without specificity—pair it with metrics
- What is the main goal of our current project?
- Are we currently integrating any new technologies or frameworks in this project?
- How do we prioritize features for development?
- How often do we update project requirements based on client feedback?
- How long does it take to move from planning to development?
- Can you tell me about the primary user stories or use cases for our application?
- What programming languages are we using for backend development?
- Is there a documentation standard we follow for project requirements?
- What is the target audience for our application?
- Are we following Agile, Scrum, or another methodology for this project?
- How do we handle requirement changes during a sprint?
- How often do we conduct sprint retrospectives?
- How long does it typically take to validate a feature with stakeholders?
- Could you tell me about the tools we use for managing project tasks and requirements?
- What database technology do we use for this project?
- Is there a particular coding style or guidelines specific to this project?
- What is our strategy for cross-platform development?
- Are we using continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) for this project?
- How do we ensure the technical feasibility of UI/UX designs?
- How often do we assess the project’s progress against milestones?
- How long does it take to complete a user story from start to finish?
- Can you explain the process for quality assurance and testing in this project?
- What third-party services do we integrate into our application?
- Is there a contingency plan for project delays or setbacks?
- What is the expected performance benchmark for our application?
- Are we leveraging any machine learning or AI within this project?
- How do we accommodate accessibility requirements in our design?
- How often do team meetings occur to discuss project status and requirements?
- How long is the feedback loop with clients or stakeholders?
- Could you tell me about the security measures in place for application data?
- What frameworks do we use for mobile development?
- Is there an architectural diagram or overview I can review to better understand the system structure?
II. Work Process Questions
🔑 These forms promote active inquiry—e.g., “Are we + ING” for ongoing processes (progressive tense). Plural/singular agreement in “Is there/Are there” avoids errors. For engineers, practice inversion in questions (e.g., “What database… do we use?”) to sound professional. Extend to conditional forms: “What if we used GraphQL instead?”
- What is the standard workflow for a task from assignment to completion?
- Are we currently implementing any changes to our work processes?
- How do we assign tasks and responsibilities within the team?
- How often do we hold stand-up meetings?
- How long does it typically take to review and merge a pull request?
- Can you explain the peer review process for code in our team?
- What version control system do we use?
- Is there a preferred communication tool for daily updates and queries?
- What is our approach to handling critical bugs or issues?
- Are we using any specific methodologies for project management, like Kanban or Scrum?
- How do we ensure consistent coding practices across the team?
- How often do we have code refactoring sessions?
- How long is a sprint cycle in our current project?
- Could you tell me about our strategy for technical debt management?
- What tools do we use for code analysis and linting?
- Is there a formal process for suggesting improvements to our work processes?
- What is our policy on work-from-home or remote work?
- Are we integrating any new tools or platforms to enhance our workflow?
- How do we track and manage dependencies in our projects?
- How often are performance appraisals conducted?
- How long does it take to deploy a new feature to production?
- Can you describe the on-call rotation for handling production issues?
- What containerization technologies are we using?
- Is there a knowledge base or repository for internal best practices and learnings?
- What is the process for escalating project blockers or issues?
- Are we engaged in any continuous learning or upskilling initiatives?
- How do we maintain documentation for our projects?
- How often do we update our development tools and environments?
- How long does it typically take to get feedback on a submitted code review? Could you tell me about our approach to secure coding practices?
- What project management software do we use to track progress and tasks?
- Is there an internal process for innovation or experimenting with new technologies?
III. Technology-Related Questions
- What is the core technology stack used in our current projects?
- Are we exploring any new programming languages or frameworks for future projects?
- How do we ensure high availability and scalability of our applications?
- How often do we perform dependency updates for our projects?
- How long does it typically take to onboard a new technology or tool?
- Can you detail the process for selecting new technologies for a project?
- What database management systems are we currently using?
- Is there a preference for certain development environments or IDEs within our team?
- What is our strategy for mobile app development? Are we focusing on native, hybrid, or web apps?
- Are we implementing DevOps practices in our project workflows?
- How do we approach API design and management?
- How often do we conduct load testing for our applications?
- How long does it take to deploy a typical service or application update?
- Could you explain our approach to data security and privacy in software development?
- What cloud services and platforms are we utilizing for hosting and operations?
- Is there an automated process for monitoring and alerting for our applications?
- What is our approach to microservices architecture?
- Are we using containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes in our projects?
- How do we manage cross-team collaboration on technology decisions?
- How often do we review our technology stack for potential updates or changes?
- How long does it usually take for a developer to become proficient with our core technologies?
- Can you share insights on our continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines?
- What frameworks do we use for frontend development?
- Is there a standard procedure for technology research and adoption within the team?
- What is our stance on open-source software usage in projects?
- Are we participating in any tech community events or open-source projects?
- How do we ensure compatibility across different browsers and devices for our web applications?
- How often do we perform security audits for our software?
- How long does a typical code review process take?
- Could you describe our testing and QA processes?
- What methodologies do we follow for project management and development? Agile, Waterfall, or something else?
- Is there an innovation lab or a specific time allocated for experimenting with emerging technologies?
IV. Primary Project Goal
🔑 “Stand out” (idiom for differentiation) pairs with comparatives (e.g., “more intuitive”). Anticipate/foresee/expect gradients: “Anticipate” implies preparation. Scope levels: Limited to immense.
- What is the primary goal of our current project?
- What is the problem or need that our project aims to address for our users?
- Are we aiming to innovate in the market, or improve upon existing solutions?
- How do we measure success for this project in terms of user satisfaction, engagement, or ROI?
- How often do we reassess our project goals to ensure they align with user needs and market trends?
- How long does it take to see tangible results or impacts from our project initiatives?
- Can you tell me about how this project aligns with the broader goals of the company?
- What key performance indicators (KPIs) are we using to track progress towards the project’s primary goal?
- Is there a specific user demographic or market segment we are targeting with this project?
- Are there any competitors or similar solutions we are benchmarking against?
- What is the envisioned user experience or journey we aim to create with this project?
- Are we leveraging any new or emerging technologies to achieve our project goals?
- How do we plan to differentiate our project from existing solutions in the market?
- How often do we collect and analyze user feedback to refine our project goals?
- How long does it take to iterate on our project based on feedback or changing market conditions?
- Can you tell me about any partnerships or collaborations that are pivotal to achieving our project goal?
- What impact do we aim to have on the industry or community with this project?
- Is there a plan for scaling the project to reach more users or additional markets?
- Are there specific challenges or obstacles we anticipate in achieving our project goal?
- What is the most critical factor for the success of this project in your view?
V. Essential Features and Functionalities
- What are the essential features that our project must have to meet its primary goal?
- Are we incorporating any advanced technologies or innovative functionalities that set our project apart?
- How do we decide which features are prioritized in the development roadmap?
- How often do we review and adjust the list of essential features based on user feedback or market trends?
- How long does it take to develop and test the core functionalities of our project?
- Can you tell me about the process for gathering requirements for new features?
- What security measures are we integrating to protect user data and ensure privacy?
- Is there a feature or functionality that is considered a unique selling point (USP) for our project?
- Are there any features that are particularly challenging to implement or have faced significant hurdles?
- What is the approach for ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in our project’s features?
- Are we using any specific frameworks or tools that are critical for developing the project’s functionalities?
- How do we ensure that the project’s features remain scalable and maintainable as we grow?
- How often do we conduct usability testing to refine and improve features?
- How long does it take to receive and incorporate user feedback into feature development?
- Can you tell me about any planned features that are not yet implemented but are crucial for future phases?
- What criteria do we use to determine if a feature should be added, modified, or removed from the project?
- Is there a mechanism for users to request new features or functionalities?
- Are there specific performance benchmarks that each feature must meet before being rolled out?
- What is the feedback loop like for users to report issues or suggest improvements on existing features?
- How do we balance innovation with practicality when designing and implementing features?
VI. Project Timelines and Milestones
- What is the projected timeline for the initial release of our project?
- Are we on track to meet our upcoming milestone deadlines?
- How do we adjust timelines and milestones in response to unforeseen challenges or delays?
- How often do we review and update the project timeline based on current progress?
- How long does it take to move from one milestone to the next in our project plan?
- Can you tell me about the most critical milestone coming up and its significance to the project?
- What are the key deliverables for the next major milestone in our project?
- Is there a phase in the project that is particularly complex or time-consuming?
- Are there any dependencies between milestones that could affect the project timeline?
- What is our strategy for catching up if we fall behind on our project timeline?
- Are we using any specific project management tools or software to track milestones and deadlines?
- How do we communicate updates on project timelines and milestones to the entire team?
- How often do we conduct sprint planning or similar sessions to align on short-term objectives?
- How long does it take to incorporate feedback from beta testing into the final product?
- Can you tell me about any contingency plans for addressing significant delays or roadblocks?
- What metrics or indicators do we use to measure progress towards milestones?
- Is there a process for stakeholders to review and approve work at each milestone?
- Are there scheduled checkpoints or reviews with clients or external partners regarding project progress?
- What is the impact of missing a milestone on the overall project timeline and deliverables?
- How do we celebrate achievements or reaching key milestones within the project team?
VII. General Tech Stack questions
🔑 “Walk through” (step-by-step guide). Prepositions: “Integrate with CMS” (not on/in/to). IDE pronunciation: /aɪ diː iː/.
- What is the main programming language used for our backend services?
- What is the framework of choice for our front-end development?
- Are we using any specific libraries for state management in our front-end applications?
- How do we approach mobile app development – natively, through web apps, or using cross-platform frameworks?
- How often do we review and update our tech stack to ensure it’s up-to-date with industry standards?
- How long does it take to integrate a new technology or library into our existing projects?
- Can you tell me about the rationale behind our choice of database technology?
- What type of cloud services do we rely on for hosting and computations?
- Is there a standardized set of tools for code analysis and formatting we adhere to?
- Are there any specific protocols we follow for API development and management?
- What is our strategy for managing and updating dependencies in our projects?
- Are we using containerization technologies like Docker, and how are they integrated into our development workflow?
- How do we ensure scalability and performance in our tech architecture?
- How often do we conduct code reviews, and what is the process?
- How long does it take to get a new service from development to deployment?
- Can you tell me about any unique or proprietary technologies that we’ve developed in-house?
- What version control system is in place, and how is branching managed?
- Is there a dedicated team or process for evaluating and testing new technologies before integrating them into our stack?
- Are there specific criteria we use to select third-party services or libraries?
- What is our approach to ensuring data security and compliance with regulations in our tech solutions?
VIII. Development Process & Practices
- What is our approach to Agile development, and do we adhere to specific frameworks like Scrum or Kanban?
- Are we implementing Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices, and which tools do we use?
- How do we manage code reviews, and what guidelines should I follow to contribute effectively?
- How often do we release new versions of our software, and what is the process?
- How long does it take to get feedback on a submitted merge/pull request?
- Can you tell me about how we ensure code quality and maintain coding standards across the team?
- What project management tools do we use to track progress, tasks, and issues?
- Is there a formal process for proposing new features or changes to existing projects?
- Are there any specific practices we follow for documentation, both internal and API/user-facing?
- What is our strategy for handling technical debt and legacy code?
- Are we using automated testing frameworks, and what is our approach to test coverage?
- How do we incorporate security practices into our development lifecycle?
- How often do we conduct performance reviews, and what metrics are important?
- How long does it take to onboard new developers, and what resources are available to expedite this process?
- Can you tell me about the team’s culture around learning and development, such as knowledge sharing sessions or workshops?
- What version control workflows do we follow, and are there any branch naming conventions or pull request processes I should be aware of?
- Is there a dedicated QA team, or do developers also perform testing?
- Are there regular team meetings or stand-ups, and what is their format?
- What is the typical process for handling bug reports or customer feedback?
- How do we balance feature development with refactoring and technical improvements?
