TY - JOUR T1 - Down and Dirty Due Diligence JF - The Journal of Private Equity SP - 5 LP - 12 DO - 10.3905/jpe.2001.319991 VL - 4 IS - 3 AU - Allan Bee. Smithee Y1 - 2001/05/31 UR - https://pm-research.com/content/4/3/5.abstract N2 - The pseudonymous Mr. Smithee, as a due diligence hired gun, describes the weapon in his work for “lucky and smart business people” as “an unhealthy dose of cynicism.” The lessons he demonstrates here include: Challenge everything that doesn't fit. Get face to face with the raw data. Respect everyone; be intimidated by no one (the meek shall avoid all bad deals). To evaluate investments in a company or a process, he provides ten-plus-a-bonus down and dirty tactics for your own on-site visits, ending with: “the dumber you look, the smarter you are…I cannot think of an instance when I pushed forward after an insult that I did not find the manager was flat wrong or had exceedingly little to back him up.” ER -