I agree that Project Constraints are competing; however, I also equally agree that there will be prime constraint in the project based on contract type, like for fixed cost contract, cost is primary constraint, for T&M Contracts, Scope and Quality are both primary constraints, and for Time-of-the-essence, contract schedule is primary. Do you agree? Saving Changes...
Definitely, Endale, and it is crucial for the PM to determine what that primary constraint is early on and communicate this to the team and key stakeholders to ensure that decisions are made keeping that in mind. However, it is also advisable for a PM to monitor for signs that the primary constraint is no longer the primary constraint!
Exactly I agree 100%, it is always good to re-assess the project constraints and risks. But do you think the primary constraint associated with contract will have a chance to be no longer a constraint?
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Nov 01, 2018 8:35 AM
Kiron Bondale
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It could, but then you'd like be going through change control and a contract revision to reflect the change assuming this is agreeable to both you and the contractual partner.
For example, a client might initially start by being focused first on scope with delivery date as a secondary constraint. But if competitive pressures indicate that they need to suddenly meet an earlier date, they might be willing to swap the priority of those constraints but that would definitely require a contract change.
Exactly I agree 100%, it is always good to re-assess the project constraints and risks. But do you think the primary constraint associated with contract will have a chance to be no longer a constraint?
It could, but then you'd like be going through change control and a contract revision to reflect the change assuming this is agreeable to both you and the contractual partner.
For example, a client might initially start by being focused first on scope with delivery date as a secondary constraint. But if competitive pressures indicate that they need to suddenly meet an earlier date, they might be willing to swap the priority of those constraints but that would definitely require a contract change.
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Project constraints does not compete each other. If that happen then the project is nonviable.
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2 replies by Endale Mekonnen Demissie and Keith Novak
Nov 01, 2018 11:08 AM
Keith Novak
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Constraints almost always compete in my experience, and an appropriate balance must be found. This applies both to technical constraints, and business constraints. It's the whole concept of the PM triangle, and There is a significant body of knowledge on architecture modeling, where the purpose is to determine the best architecture for a system of interest to fit multiple competing constraints.
Nov 01, 2018 11:46 AM
Endale Mekonnen Demissie
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I think that is why PM's are required to do trade-off during that time, is it not?
Project constraints does not compete each other. If that happen then the project is nonviable.
Constraints almost always compete in my experience, and an appropriate balance must be found. This applies both to technical constraints, and business constraints. It's the whole concept of the PM triangle, and There is a significant body of knowledge on architecture modeling, where the purpose is to determine the best architecture for a system of interest to fit multiple competing constraints. Saving Changes...
Michael DelaneyPartner| Delaney Management LLCWest Chester, Pa, United States
The delivery date almost always become the primary constraint. Saving Changes...
There may or may not be a prime constraint. When I work R&D projects or internally funded improvement projects, there is no contract so it is the mechanics of the business case that drives the constraints. The business case will tend to be more sensitive to some variables than others so I try to determine the sensitivity early on and know which variables will have the greatest impact on the outcome. There may be some hard constraints, such as "We need to get the product to market by X or there is no use for it." or do-not-exceed costs but often there are multiple trade-offs rather than one constraint that rules out over all. We tend to use kiviat charts/radar plots/spider charts to illustrate the envelope we have to work within, and the current projected performance.
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1 reply by Endale Mekonnen Demissie
Nov 01, 2018 11:48 AM
Endale Mekonnen Demissie
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I think R&D has T&M contract sense, may be that is why you are mostly focusing on the deliverable as you mentioned.
There may or may not be a prime constraint. When I work R&D projects or internally funded improvement projects, there is no contract so it is the mechanics of the business case that drives the constraints. The business case will tend to be more sensitive to some variables than others so I try to determine the sensitivity early on and know which variables will have the greatest impact on the outcome. There may be some hard constraints, such as "We need to get the product to market by X or there is no use for it." or do-not-exceed costs but often there are multiple trade-offs rather than one constraint that rules out over all. We tend to use kiviat charts/radar plots/spider charts to illustrate the envelope we have to work within, and the current projected performance.
I think R&D has T&M contract sense, may be that is why you are mostly focusing on the deliverable as you mentioned.
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1 reply by Keith Novak
Nov 01, 2018 12:05 PM
Keith Novak
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In that case, I suppose the primary constraint would be that we don't run out of money. :-) In large organizations however, there might be a very big bucket of money, and my project is one small fraction of that. In reality, I'm never going to come up against that constraint so it doesn't steer the project unless I'm told to cease and desist on spending T&M. The real constraints driving the project are TPMs or other KPAs, business constraints that dictate whether or not we have a marketable project such as cost and time to market, and the all important reporting to the people paying the bills so that they don't shut the money off.
"Ambition is like a frog sitting on a Venus Flytrap. The flytrap can bite and bite, but it won't bother the frog because it only has little tiny plant teeth. But some other stuff could happen and it could be like ambition."
