Why I Ask All of Those "Dumb" Questions

"In school they give you a question and ask you to find an answer. In the real world the answers are everywhere -- the Internet, calculators, history books, reference manuals. The trick is asking the right questions."
--Adapted from speech by Conrad Wolfram

When contemplating a difficult decision, I frequently ask myself several questions. These I have found are useful when attempting to select the "best" solution:

1. What am I truly committed to; that is, what outcome am I attempting to achieve?
2. If this is a human factors decision, then who am I empowering and who am I dis-empowering?
3. How can I say that by picking a specific solution, that I can achieve the desired result?
4. What am I overlooking?
5. What is the downside risk if I select that specific solution? That is to say, what is the "worst case" possibility that might occur. What is the likely outcome of that worst case possibility?  
6. If this is something I am doing in my capacity as a member of the board of BLMH, and a fiduciary, there is one more question to ask: In doing this, and in making this specific decision, am I serving the association? Or is it possible I am instead, serving a small group of owners, the members of the board, or myself?
7. In making this decision and selecting the solution, is it possible that I am creating "winners" and "losers?" If so, is that appropriate? Can I alter the solution and create only "winners?"
8. Is there anything that can support and validate my answers to the preceding questions, or am I simply operating out of my beliefs, judgments, and opinions?

Comments, Corrections, Omissions, References

Note 1.  This post was prompted by recent association events, including Thursday's association meeting.