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How is this a project? A project is not simply work leading to some outcome. At its core, it’s a specific work-management method tied to the iron triangle (con

How is this a project? A project is not simply work leading to some outcome. At its core, it’s a specific work-management method tied to the iron triangle (constrained cost, scope, and time), which requires a set plan from the start. This iterative method breaks the iron triangle. If the iron triangle is broken, is it a “project”? I feel that project-management industry is diluting the meaning of “project” to encompass other kinds of work management that aren’t “project”. End result is we’re really confusing things. Cynically, this may be the PM industry trying to assert its relevance in different disciplines, to the harm of all. We can say the same thing about “bad agile”, where a set of ceremonies is confused with agile philosophy. Do we need to burn it all down and start over?

civilized 5y ago
I'm not quite sure what you're saying, but it seems like you're suggesting that having a flexible, non-"set" goal or plan "breaks the iron triangle". But... the iron triangle says that quality is subject to scope, cost, and time constraints. Scope is, loosely, how ambitious the project's goals are, so the inclusion of scope already implies that the iron triangle not only allows, but anticipates, flexibility in the project's goals.
Retric 5y ago
That’s redefining a project well outside of how it’s generally used. Most projects only have a very general idea of scope, time, and budget before people start. For example remodeling is generally dependent on the conditions of the sub flooring etc which you don’t know before starting.
- AuthorizedCust 5y ago
  You start work like that with assumptions baked in, and you use change orders to make a formal modification to the iron triangle, otherwise the whole initiative falls apart. That’s a project.
jimmySixDOF 5y ago
Agile can be effective in a business as usual environment similar to what the article is concerned with. It may not meet the technical definition of a Project but it uses and benefits from many of the same processes. Is that mission creep for PMI ? Cooking dinner can be managed as a project. If PMBOK starts to get merged with ITIL then we have a problem but sharing best practice is healthy everywhere. As for the Iron Triangle, there is a reason it consistently results in cost overruns and blown schedules -- the plan stage suffers from low visibility of future conditions and the polotics of getting funded. At the other end of the spectrum is this Agile like approach of the article where your plan floats in a two week scheduling window without a baseline and you draw targets around wherever you land. There needs to be room in the middle.
- AuthorizedCust 5y ago
  The middle part isn’t a project, though. The concept of “project” and the iron triangle are inseparable. The middle necessarily means the iron triangle isn’t being used.

civilized 5y ago

I'm not quite sure what you're saying, but it seems like you're suggesting that having a flexible, non-"set" goal or plan "breaks the iron triangle". But... the iron triangle says that quality is subject to scope, cost, and time constraints. Scope is, loosely, how ambitious the project's goals are, so the inclusion of scope already implies that the iron triangle not only allows, but anticipates, flexibility in the project's goals.

Retric 5y ago

That’s redefining a project well outside of how it’s generally used. Most projects only have a very general idea of scope, time, and budget before people start. For example remodeling is generally dependent on the conditions of the sub flooring etc which you don’t know before starting.

AuthorizedCust 5y ago
You start work like that with assumptions baked in, and you use change orders to make a formal modification to the iron triangle, otherwise the whole initiative falls apart. That’s a project.

jimmySixDOF 5y ago

Agile can be effective in a business as usual environment similar to what the article is concerned with. It may not meet the technical definition of a Project but it uses and benefits from many of the same processes. Is that mission creep for PMI ? Cooking dinner can be managed as a project. If PMBOK starts to get merged with ITIL then we have a problem but sharing best practice is healthy everywhere. As for the Iron Triangle, there is a reason it consistently results in cost overruns and blown schedules -- the plan stage suffers from low visibility of future conditions and the polotics of getting funded. At the other end of the spectrum is this Agile like approach of the article where your plan floats in a two week scheduling window without a baseline and you draw targets around wherever you land. There needs to be room in the middle.

AuthorizedCust 5y ago
The middle part isn’t a project, though. The concept of “project” and the iron triangle are inseparable. The middle necessarily means the iron triangle isn’t being used.