Project Triangle Constraint
Posted by Philip Baskerville in Dec, 2016
Project Triangle Constraint
The ‘project triangle’ is a name given to the three main factors that, together, act as constraints on a project—traditionally scope, time and cost. The area of the triangle is often said to represent ‘quality’. The project triangle is also known as the ‘iron triangle’, or the ‘project management triangle’.
Every project, when created, has a defined scope of work, a budget (cost), a schedule (time) and quality standards to meet. In other words, it is ‘constrained’ by these factors, just as the area of a triangle is constrained by the length of its three sides, or the size of its three angles.
These factors are constraints on a project because change to any one of them will have flow-on effects for one or more of the others (e.g. shortening the time for a project will increase the cost involved—extra resources, overtime etc.—and may have an impact on the quality of deliverables).
The project triangle may also apply for other inter-dependent variables; for example, finances, human resources and time.
To use some Aussie slang, if your Project has to be done as ‘cheap as chips‘ and to be completed ‘by yesterday‘ and you have to produce ‘top shelf stuff‘ then you can say, “Tell ’em they’re dreaming!” – a quote from the movie – The Castle.
Project Triangle Constraints:
Costs – ‘cheap as chips’
Time – ‘done by yesterday’
Scope – ‘top shelf stuff’
Quality – ‘tell em they’re dreaming’
Additional resource
Find out more about the Project triangle constraints at: http://www.academia.edu/7051956/Project_management_cost_time_and_quality
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Philip Baskerville has significant strategic senior management experience. His roles included Head of School (Business and IT) and as the senior Business Advisor at Southbank Institute of Technology. He was recognised by the Chair Award 2012 for Outstanding Innovation in developing an integrated business process that gave all stakeholders information on the financial outcomes of all courses from planning through to review. Philip uses his extensive academic studies with a Masters in IT at University of Queensland and Bachelor of Education and combines it with his peer acknowledged skills in project planning/management, coaching, business analysis/strategy, change management and strategic planning, Philip Baskerville has a wealth of experience and knowledge that he now imparts through training and his writings.
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