Rules on internet project management: (13) Keep it feasible

Rules on internet project management: (13) Keep it feasible

A project has a beginning and an end. In the intervening period the project has to be delivered. This means that there is an X- amount of time available for an X- amount of work. Too often this is not in line with each other. Therefore, rule 13 is:

Keep it feasible
A client would like to get as much as possible realized in the shortest possible time. A deadline is ‘hard’ and can often not change. Meanwhile, the demands have not become less and they even grow. The pressure from the client on the supplier will get very big.

The client may cut themselves into the fingers with this kind of behavior. By increasing the pressure on the supplier there is a bigger chance that a supplier will deliver a less good job. The supplier will want to keep the client happy and will try to handle as much as possible in the efforts to meet the demands and deadlines. But this will be at the expense of quality. Then, when deadlines are not met, the quality leaves something to be desired for or the price increases, the sponsor will get dissatisfied with the supplier. But that is not always justified.

A client must realize that there is only a limited amount of time and that within that time the most viable has to be achieved, but within the borders. Everything you ask for that is out of the boundaries will backfire, whether it is price, quality or time. The supplier also has its responsibilities. They should make clear what the limits of the possibilities are and be honest and open about communicating them. Keep it feasible: it will deliver a better product.