In a Nutshell

Whilst time, cost and quality are each as important as the other, decisions may need to be made on which is the primary driver for your particular product and customer at this moment in time.

It is necessary to understand and balance stakeholder needs as their demands for quality over time or cost (or vice versa) can be driven by personal preference as much as ‘reality’.

We work with our customers and stakeholders to understand and agree the affect of sacrificing one element for another. For example, increasing quality may have additional cost and time implications.

Any choices we make will have consequences. The extent to which these consequences are discussed and addressed with the customer will positively impact the perceived success of our decisions.

Particular caution should be given to agreeing timescales before cost and quality have been agreed and before we have agreed what ‘done’ looks like. See Focus on Done.

Fixing time locks the iron triangle and consideration should sometimes be given as to whether it is actually feasible to set timescales.

Practices 

Practices to come:

  • Quality By Design

  • Visualise Process