Unit 1 - Triple Constraints

unit 1 - Triple Constraints
factors that affect project performance

The triple constraint is a critical project management concept that originates from
the basis for undertaking a project and provides direction for framing the project.
The triple constraint constitutes one of the primary building blocks of the project
plan and is paramount to the monitoring and controlling process group.
Triple Constraint states that the success of the project is impacted by its costs, time, and
scope. As a project manager, you can keep control of the triple constraint by balancing
these three constraints through trade-offs. The triangle reflects the fact that the three
constraints are interrelated and involve trade-offs – one side of the triangle cannot be
changed without impacting the others.Project time addresses the scheduling and
duration of the project, cost addresses the budget and resources of theproject, and
scope addresses the requirements and work of the project.
A time-constrained project is bounded by the completion agenda, whereas a cost-
constrained project is bounded by the scheduling of expenditure. Scope constrained
projects are bounded by the performance criteria of the deliverables.
The triple constraint continuously faces conflicting demands and competing priorities
within the project milieu. For example, if the project is working to a fixed level of scope
then the cost of the project will largely be dependent upon schedule availability.
scope
Defines the boundaries of the project. It should state broadly the general purpose and
goals of the project. It includes all of the work required, and only the work required to
complete the project successfully. It may refer to as a document of understanding, a
scooping statement, a project initiation or request document. It act as a point of
reference so we can truly tell what we can do and what is not possible .
Scope of project may change, detecting & accommodating how or when it change is
challenging. For example, if we have time and budget, we can widen the project.
cost
The cost constraint refers to the budget or financial resources allocated to complete a
project. The resources required to complete a project, such as labor, materials, and
equipment, are a significant part of the cost constraint.
S↑ α T↑ C↑
T↓ α S↓ C↑
C↓ α S↓ T↑ ,
The important consideration is that a connected triangle must be maintained at all

times. it is not possible to maintain the triple constraint as a triangle when all three
variables are pursued simultaneously. In many cases, there are trade-offs between the
three factors. For example, making a product better may require more time and
resources, which can increase the cost. Similarly, making a product faster may require
sacrificing some of its quality or features, which can impact its overall performance and
value.
Good, fast, or cheap? pick 2

The notion is that projects are generally constrained to choose two of the three
elements and sacrifice the other in order to gain the chosen two. One can choose
either good-and-fast, or good-and-cheap, or fast-and-cheap; but critically not all three.
Barker & Cole’s seesaw model - with the scope of work (good) remaining pivotal, the
project cannot be delivered simultaneously fast and cheap as well; one of the elements
has to be flexible.
Suppose you are managing an educational project to develop an online course for a
university. The original scope of the project includes developing a course with 10
modules, each with 3 hours of content. The estimated cost of the project is $50,000, and
the estimated duration of the project is 9 months.
Now, let's say that the university wants the online course to be completed in 6 months
instead of 9 months. This reduction in time will require additional effort and resources
to complete the project in a shorter timeframe. As a result, the project team will need to
reduce the scope of the project or increase the cost of the project to accommodate this
change.
If the scope of the project remains fixed at 10 modules, each with 3 hours of content,
then the project team will need to increase the cost of the project to complete the
project in 6 months. This means that the project can be delivered with the original
scope and on time, but it will cost more than originally planned.
Alternatively, if the university wants to keep the cost of the project fixed at $50,000,
then the project team will need to reduce the scope of the project to complete the
project in 6 months. This means that the project can be delivered on time and within
budget, but it will have reduced scope compared to the original plan, such as reducing
the number of modules or the amount of content in each module.
Quality and Resource Constraints

Project management literature sporadically indicates quality and performance as an
adjunct to or substitute for scope, and occasionally designates customer satisfaction
and project risk as ancillary constraints.
Quality constitutes an uncompromising and inherent objective of the project

specification that takes root in all three properties of the triple constraint. it is the
degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfill requirements.
Quality: This refers to the level of excellence or superiority of the project deliverables.
The project quality must be defined and measured to ensure that the project
deliverables meet the required standards.
there are 2 quality types, product quality and product quality
If a product meets the specified performance criteria for a specified minimum
time, it can be said to be a quality product.
there is a significant difference between quality and grade

Grade in a project context typically refers to the technical specifications or requirements
of the project deliverables such as its size, weight, material composition, or
performance specifications.
For example, if a project involves developing an online course, the grade of the course
may be based on technical requirements such as the learning management system
used, the number of modules, the duration of each module, and the type of
assessments used.
Quality in an educational project context typically refers to the level of excellence or
effectiveness of the project deliverables in meeting the educational objectives and
expectations of the stakeholders. Quality can be affected by many factors, including the
instructional design, content, delivery, and assessment methods used in the project.
The quality of the course may be defined by factors such as the clarity and effectiveness
of the instructional design, the relevance and accuracy of the content, the engagement
and interactivity of the delivery, and the validity and reliability of the assessments.
Is possible for a school to have a low grade (e.g., based on standardized test scores
or other metrics) but still have good quality in terms of its educational offerings,
teaching methods, and student outcomes.
The grade of a school is often based on standardized test scores, which can be affected
by many factors outside of the school's control, such as students' socioeconomic status
or language proficiency. A school with a low grade may also have other challenges, such
as limited resources or high teacher turnover, that can impact student achievement.
However, a school can still have good quality in terms of its educational offerings,
teaching methods, and student outcomes, even if it has a low grade. For example, a
school may have dedicated and skilled teachers who use innovative and effective
teaching methods to engage students and promote learning. The school may also have
a strong culture of academic excellence and a supportive learning environment that
encourages students to succeed.
Risk impacts the performance of the triple constraint, which may precipitate change in
terms of the triple constraint trade-off dynamics.

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unit 1 - Triple Constraints

factors that affect project performance

The important consideration is that a connected triangle must be maintained at all

Good, fast, or cheap? pick 2

Quality and Resource Constraints

Quality constitutes an uncompromising and inherent objective of the project

there is a significant difference between quality and grade

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