If you’ve read my report “7 Keys To Bullet Proof Project Management That WILL Save You THOUSANDS“ you would know that I crafted my PM skills in utilizing The Triple Constraint…by default.
I figured that if I could manage- Time, Cost, Quality and Scope, exceptionally well, then I was a long was to delivering a successful project.
And it turned out to be true.
The triple constraints of Project Management is merely a description of the four most important and opposing constraints that all projects undergo.
The word Triple is a bit of an oxymoron as such, as the PM triangle consists of 4 constraints and not 3.
The three constraints of time, cost, and quality are displayed on the three opposing sides of the diagram below. However the main image of this article consists of the 4 ‘usual’ constraints.
Now I realize that there are a lot of other elements that are required to be managed in a Project but, this is merely my experience with it all. And it worked amazingly well!
I firmly believe that junior and young Project Managers should hone their skills from these elements first, before they step up into Project Life Cycle management, which requires a whole other skill set.
It is important to note that if a change occurs on any side of the triangle, it then effects the other parts (and even multiple parts) of the triangle and ultimately the overall project.
They also have strong dependent relationships.
These three constraints are often competing constraints. E.G-
1) increased scope typically means increased time and increased cost
2) a tight time constraint could mean increased costs and reduced scope
3) a tight budget could mean increased time and reduced scope.