ΒΆ What are the triple constraints?
A constraint is something that imposes limitations on something. The triple constraints of project management is timeline, budget, and scope. You'll see that quality is located in the middle of the pyramid because when any one of the three sides of the triangle change the quality is directly affected.
It is required to set the right expectation with Clarity's clients around the triple constraints of project management. During the project kickoff a project manager should review the triple constraints. A good way to do this is by defining triple constraints while giving two or three examples. During the project kickoff a project manager should ask the client to prioritize in order of importance timeline, budget, and scope.
Time is a constraint because in most projects there is a target deadline in which all scope must be delivered.
Budget is a constraint because naturally companies have to be fiscally responsible and only have limited resources. Would it make sense to give a project manager an unlimited budget?
Scope is a constraint because it defines what is required to complete a project. If scope is added or removed, budget and timeline can either increase or decrease respectively.
For example, in the beginning, if the client says they need to move fast, stay on budget, and they have to get 100% of the scope and quality desired, their expectations must be reset immediately. Please see further examples below:
If the client company wants to move fast, and that is their primary concern, then the budget and scope or quality requirements must be reduced.
If the client company wants to absolutely stay on budget no matter what - and that is the most important thing to them, then it is wise to set the expectation of having a longer timeline and letting them know their will also most likely need to be concessions made on scope and quality.
If the client company absolutely wants the site pixel perfect, and they insist on getting 100% of the scope desired, then the timeline and budget will be increased due to the additional time and money it will take to include all desired scope while delivering the highest quality possible.
The bottom line is that a client company cannot have all three of these things prioritized because of how each one of these three different areas constrain one another.