The paradox of project planning

Abstract:

The paradox of project planning is a project management tool that illustrates time, knowledge, and decisions.

Uncertainty, the significance of decisions, and the degree of freedom to make decisions are typically high at the beginning of the project and low in the end. Accumulated cost and availability information have a reverse development through the project, beginning at a low level and ending at a high level (1).

The most significant decisions are often made at the start of the project whit the slightest knowledge. Early decisions will have a substantial impact on the project and will most likely determine the success or the failure of the whole project (2).

The paradox of project planning aims to compress the gap between the decision and knowledge curve as best as possible (3), delay decisions, and learn faster so that the decisions are made with increased knowledge (4).

• Delay decisions • Learn Faster • Fail early; fail often

Application:

Limitations:

References: 1. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/front-end-project-management-success-7998 2. https://fieldscale.com/blog/design-engineers-paradox/ 3. http://www.418qe.com/uffe-albaek-speaks-at-dwd 4. https://beyond-agility.com/project-paradox/