The meanings referring to environmentalists and behind-schedule projects derive from the idea of having agreen (eco-friendly, on-schedule) outward appearance while beingred (socialist, behind schedule) in a hidden way comparable to that of the fruit.
2010 August 7, Robin McKie, “Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M Conway”, inThe Observer[1],→ISSN:
According to this distorted view of life, environmentalists arewatermelons – green on the outside, red on the inside – who want to impose regulation, “the slippery slope to socialism”, on the use of tobacco, ozone-destroying chemicals and greenhouse gases.
Apinkish-redcolour, like that of watermelon flesh (also called watermelon pink).
2011 August 8, Marc Löffler, “Watermelon Reporting”, inDZone[2], AnswerHub:
The nuts and bolts of any project are transparency. If the project status is transparent, thewatermelons can’t arise. If anybody is able to get the information, it will be difficult to hide something.
2015 September 17, Ken Burrell, “Watch out forwatermelons in project reports”, inLinkedIn[3]:
As a PMO [project management officer], wherever I seewatermelon reporting, I encourage the PM [project manager] to be brave and honest enough to ask for help.
2021 April 24, Sumir Karayi, “Combatting theWatermelon Effect to Improve Digital Experience”, inCIO[4], IDG Communications, archived fromthe original on5 June 2021:
