There are no right answers but their answers should be readily available. Hesitation or unclear responses indicate a need for a strategy review, preferably by an outsider.

1. How much time do you spend with customers?
2. Is the time spent more or less than last year?
3. Describe what business you are in. Take less than ten word, please.
4. In six months, what new offerings will your customers expect from your company?
5. In twelve months, in what ways will your customers expect your business to have changed?
6. Does your company have the will and nimbleness to make these changes?
7. Does your company reward risk-takers regardless of the outcome?
8. How does your company treat people involved in failed projects?
9. Does your CIO report to the CEO and have full executive status?
10. Do you share information with customers, suppliers and partners about each other?
11. Which causes better rewards: increasing revenues, reducing costs or improving quality?
12. Do you reward technological brilliance? What about innovation?
13. Do you focus more on problem-solving or opportunity creation?
14. Do you really know how your customers, partners, suppliers and employees view you?
15. Do you know what your key competitors are up to?
16. How many of your customers are delighted with your performance?
17. Have you truly web-enabled your business in the most effective way to address these questions?
18. Are your employees excited about the company and their role in moving it forward?
19. How do your employees use the web to assist them in pursuing the company objectives?
20. How have the objectives and their payments changed in the past year?

Copyright the authors and/or Keith Cowan