The Triple Constraint in Project Management
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| − | + | When managing a project several aspects constraints the project. These constraints are interdependent and the three key constraints form what has traditionally been known as the The Triple Constraint or The Iron Triangle. | |
| + | Some claim time, scope and cost (TCS) to be the key constraints others claim it is time, cost and quality (TCQ) <ref name="VanWyngaard"> Van Wyngaard, C.J., Pretorius, J. H. C., Pretorius, L. ''Theory of the triple constraint – a conceptual review.'' IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, 13:1991–1997, (2012). </ref> <ref name="Pollack"> Pollack, J., Helm, J., and Adler, D. ''What is the iron triangle, and how has it changed?'' International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 11(2):527–547, 2018, (2018). </ref>. It is either way the project managers job to balance between the constraints to obtain trade-offs within a reasonable limit during the project's life cycle to obtain a successful project. The model implies that the project's successful completion is affected by the trade-offs performed and it is the project managers job to know how the constraints interrelate. The model however does not determine success <ref name="Westland"> Westland, J. ''The triple Constraint in Project Management: Time, Scope Cost.'' [Online] https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/triple-constraint-project-management-time-scope-cost, Accessed: 02-16-2019, (2018) </ref>. The model has been widely used since the 1950s and the application and limitations have been discussed extensively <ref name="Atkinson"> Atkinson, R. ''Project Management: Cost, Time and Quality, Two Best Guesses and a Phenomenon, it's Time to Accept Other Success Criteria.'' International Journal of ProjectManagement, 17(6):337–342,(1999). </ref>. Atkinson is one of the critics who claims the model is insufficient for determine the project success, because success rely on several additional factors and not only the three constraints <ref name= "Atkinson" />. Others are more positive, but in general it seem that many would like to modify the model to improve the interpretation <ref name="VanWyngaard" />. Predominantly there seems to be a disagreement about whether scope or cost is the third constraint in the triangle. The aim of this paper is to explain the concept of the triplet constrain and it's application and limitations in project management and to reflect on the different perspectives. | ||
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| + | ==Introducing the Triple Constraint== | ||
Revision as of 14:41, 21 February 2019
Abstract
When managing a project several aspects constraints the project. These constraints are interdependent and the three key constraints form what has traditionally been known as the The Triple Constraint or The Iron Triangle. Some claim time, scope and cost (TCS) to be the key constraints others claim it is time, cost and quality (TCQ) [1] [2]. It is either way the project managers job to balance between the constraints to obtain trade-offs within a reasonable limit during the project's life cycle to obtain a successful project. The model implies that the project's successful completion is affected by the trade-offs performed and it is the project managers job to know how the constraints interrelate. The model however does not determine success [3]. The model has been widely used since the 1950s and the application and limitations have been discussed extensively [4]. Atkinson is one of the critics who claims the model is insufficient for determine the project success, because success rely on several additional factors and not only the three constraints [4]. Others are more positive, but in general it seem that many would like to modify the model to improve the interpretation [1]. Predominantly there seems to be a disagreement about whether scope or cost is the third constraint in the triangle. The aim of this paper is to explain the concept of the triplet constrain and it's application and limitations in project management and to reflect on the different perspectives.
Contents |
Introducing the Triple Constraint
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Van Wyngaard, C.J., Pretorius, J. H. C., Pretorius, L. Theory of the triple constraint – a conceptual review. IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, 13:1991–1997, (2012).
- ↑ Pollack, J., Helm, J., and Adler, D. What is the iron triangle, and how has it changed? International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 11(2):527–547, 2018, (2018).
- ↑ Westland, J. The triple Constraint in Project Management: Time, Scope Cost. [Online] https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/triple-constraint-project-management-time-scope-cost, Accessed: 02-16-2019, (2018)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Atkinson, R. Project Management: Cost, Time and Quality, Two Best Guesses and a Phenomenon, it's Time to Accept Other Success Criteria. International Journal of ProjectManagement, 17(6):337–342,(1999).
