Comments on: Three universal truths for why projects are not completed on time

By: Trying To Find The Road Not Taken » Blog Archive » Universal Truths on Project Completion Times

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:13:43 +0000

[...] my friend Kelly sent over an article from the Unclutterer website called, “Three universal truths for why projects are not completed on time”. Within two minutes of reading the first paragraph and the three universal truths, Craig and I [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:45:36 +0000

@Mike and @dumdrum: I just attended a course on Project Management and apparently that’s the triple constraint (time, cost, quality). This all comes down to prioritization and preparation again on the part of the client.

By: Monday Quick Links | design work life

Monday Quick Links | design work life — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:02:22 +0000

[...] reads: How to Get motivated for Self-PromotionThree Universal Truths for Why Projects are not Completed on TimeSelf Promotion for Creatives, an e-bookMark Boulton’s Designing for the Web is now online.The [...]

By: dumdrum

dumdrum — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:03:25 +0000

@Mike: i worked in a design team which followed that formula.
very effective indeed. once the client knows this, they tend to focus on reality a bit more than their dreams!

By: links for 2010-03-11 « Boskabout

links for 2010-03-11 « Boskabout — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:06:03 +0000

[...] Three universal truths for why projects are not completed on time These are the universal truths for why projects are not completed on time: [...]

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:20:29 +0000

In general – I have had customers that don’t know what they want. They want you to demo your way to the finish line. So no matter what numbers you give you are always defeated. You deliver on time each time but you are not closer to closing and leaving the project.

Another interesting article might look at software tools beyond personal task lists, and project to help get better estimates and better deliverable reaction. One other issue that could be tried is with the customer. Is there a certain frame work that a person could use with the customer to help them down their road? I like this site. But I often find that I have clutter on the brain as a developer not always on my desk.

By: Vanessa (One New Thing)

Vanessa (One New Thing) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:46:53 +0000

I am so bad about underestimating the time it takes me to do something. Sooo bad. It finally dawned on me that part of my problem was trying to be “on time” when I really needed to be shooting for “early.” On time is virtually impossible anyway, since it’s hard to plan things down to the minute, but if I need to be somewhere or finish something by a certain time, I now shoot for an earlier time (depending on what it is). This has helped me tremendously.

By: jepeto

jepeto — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:54 +0000

Proper planning prevents piss-poor performance

7 P’s of planning

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:18:44 +0000

I always liked a response a friend told me he gives clients:
Pick any two from this list:
– You can have it fast.
– You can have it perfect.
– You can have it cheap.
Whichever two options you choose, you will definitely not get the third.

By: Pawel @ Minimalist Business

Pawel @ Minimalist Business — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:43:34 +0000

Another good strategy when giving out project timelines is to operate in as big time units as possible. Instead 2-4 hours, say half a day. Instead 5 days, a week and so on.

It’s easier to accept an hour delay if the project was meant to take half a day. But imagine the same with one estimated for 4 hours.

By: TanyaZ

TanyaZ — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:25:45 +0000

Tell me about it…

By: Craig Jarrow

Craig Jarrow — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:54:46 +0000

Erin – Love this post! Think you are right on with your three truths.

From my experience, it is usually #3 that impacts the project at hand. That coupled with companies’ complacent attitude around deadlines, leads to projects repeatedly being extended.

-Craig

By: Thekla Richter

Thekla Richter — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:20:46 +0000

I think another truth is that people are often unwilling to accept the reality that their ongoing choices have impact and consequences that *they* must take responsibility for. Expectation-setting and change management can only go so far… beyond a certain point, personal responsibility is a concept that each person must be willing to learn. That includes accepting the reality that we can’t control our clients and stakeholders, only strive to influence them.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:44:38 +0000

@Mletta — You’re describing two situations, and both of them are included above. Unrealistic expectations means that the “client” is unprepared. It clearly means that he/she lacks information and didn’t do the research ahead of time, thus creating an unachievable timeline. The other situation you describe (vendors not providing things on schedule) is included in the third truth — people underestimate how long it will take them to do something.

By: Mletta

Mletta — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:31:24 +0000

You also left out “Vendors do not deliver their products or services on time.” This then throws off the whole project in many instances.

You mention “realistic expectation for work completion.”
That does not exist anymore. Someone (the boss, the client, the client’s boss, etc.) decides that they want X on Day X. Period. The fact that it isn’t doable based on the amount of time needed for turnaround doesn’t matter. THey. Want. It.

Unrealistic expectations and turnaround time are the reason that most project deadlines are not met. They never could.

Nobody ever wants to say NO and those that caution about time issues are ignored and told: Just. Do. It.

People cannot work 24/7 but many projects are structured as if that were possible.

The worst is when people have ridiculously short turn-around times, very limited budgets and very high expectations. Nightmare in the making.

Even doubling the time, faking deadlines, it frequently never works.

The only way we ever got other departments to do their work on time on a multi-department project was to charge them when they were late. Even then, many dept heads didn’t care and just paid extra.

And fyi, even with only one client contact, the client WILL change the project dimensions, details, etc. and there is NOTHING you can do about it if you want to keep their business. They don’t care.

The best managers learn to listen carefully and respect what their vendors tell them about turnaround times and project resources and budgets AND deadlines. If they don’t, the project will suffer.