Immutable Law of Project Management

Introduction

• New Project Assignment: High quality, half the time, under budget.
• Question: Should this lead to updating one's resume, or is there a lesson to learn?

Core Concept

• The Immutable Law: Good, fast, cheap - choose any two.
• Comparable to a fundamental principle akin to E = MC² for project management and various tasks.

Exploring the Concept Through Examples

Example 1: Increasing Headcount

• Result: Good and potentially fast, but not cheap.
• Reason: More people lead to higher costs.
• Limitation: Fred Brooks' "The Mythical Man-Month" - diminishing returns with more people.

Example 2: Extending Timeline

• Result: Good and cheap, but not fast.
• Reason: More time allows for better quality and reduced need for more workers.

Example 3: Increasing Speed

• Result: Fast and cheap, but not good.
• Reason: Speed leads to lesser quality due to rushed processes.

Conclusion

• Key Takeaway: Only two out of three qualities can be maximized at a time.
• Lesson Propagation: Teach this principle to managers for better project outcomes.

Final Thoughts

• Discussion Invitation: Readers are invited to challenge the concept by sharing exceptions, acknowledging the rule as an "immutable law of the universe."