I received some more advice today based on Google X for trying to tackle problems. The advice is trying to tackle the hardest problem first to decide whether the work is viable or not. The example from Google X is a monkey on a 10 foot pedestal reading Shakespeare. Which is the first bit you should tackle? Their answer is training the monkey as its clearly the hardest bit to do. Most people would create the pedestal but what is the point in delivering that if the monkey can never learn to read?
More detail in the link below but its an interesting thing to consider, why start the work before you’ve worked out how to tackle the most difficult thing? If its impossible can you save money by calling that out early?