Re: Schedule, Cost, & Quality: Pick Two

Subject: Re: Schedule, Cost, & Quality: Pick Two
From: "Elna Tymes" <etymes -at- lts -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 17:21:18 -0800

Murrell, Thomas wrote:

> Perhaps 20 years ago, a Project Manager I was working for told me that there
> are three aspects of any project: Quality, Cost, Schedule. Then he said
> something I have always considered profound. He said, "You can have any two
> of these aspects on a project at a cost of the third aspect."

The short, and rather blunt, version of that is "Quick, Accurate, or Cheap. Pick
two." And it's true! Many inexperienced engineering managers think you can get
all three if you just nag enough or if you pick people who are bright enough.
The truth is that professionals need time to get a job done, and good
professionals don't come cheap.

I once got fired from a job because the (inexperienced) person I mentioned this
to thought I was being insubordinate, stubborn, and unrealistic. I took some
small, rather wry satisfaction in watching the company slowly slide into
bankruptcy over the next six months.

Elna Tymes
Los Trancos Systems





Previous by Author: Re: peanut butter and jelly - revisited
Next by Author: Re: Famous Technical Writers?
Previous by Thread: Re: Schedule, Cost, & Quality: Pick Two
Next by Thread: Re: Schedule, Cost, & Quality: Pick Two


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads