Which question asks how the budget was determined?

• A. Do you feel the budget you have been given is sufficient to solve this problem?
• B. You had mentioned that your company has budgeted ______ to fix this problem. Can I ask how that was determined?
• C. What would this do for you personally?
• D. What would you do if you could solve this problem?

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is uncovering how a budget number was chosen. The best option directly asks for the method behind the budget amount—“how that was determined?” This invites the other person to reveal the criteria, assumptions, and calculations that led to the figure, which is exactly what you need to understand the buying context and align a solution with financial constraints.

The other possibilities miss that focus: one questions whether the current budget is enough, another asks about personal impact, and the last explores what you would do if the problem were solved. They don’t elicit how the budget was set, so they don’t give you insight into the decision process behind the number.