The triple constraint. Dealing with time, cost and scope.
What is the triple constraint? How is it utilized in project management?
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What is the triple constraint?
To successfully plan and execute a project, the budget must be kept, resources optimally utilized, and the product delivered to expectations – and all that while constantly managing the changes that arise in the course of a project. To achieve this, it’s necessary to create a balance between the factors time, cost, and scope. Scope is sometimes also referred to as goal, content or quality.
The triple constraint helps visualize these three factors and makes clear that when one factor changes, at least one of the other two will be affected. If a deadline needs to be moved forward, for example, it may be necessary to use more resources and costs may increase. In addition, the risk increases that the delivered product will not satisfy stakeholders.
Sometimes the triple constraint is drawn upside down. This version is supposed to represent the difference between classic and agile project management.
Cost
Cost refers to the originally determined budget as well as the plan and actual costs in the project. The latter are determined through resource planning, where staff, material, rent and so on are take into account.
Time
Time refers to the start and end dates of activities, releases and sprints, as well as mile stones. Often a Gantt chart will be used for scheduling.
Scope
Scope refers to deliverables and quality. For example, for a software project this describes the features to be implemented. Sometimes the scope accidentally increases. This is referred to as scope creep.
The triple constraint – a definition
The triple constraint is a tool in project management for visualizing the relationships between time, cost and scope.
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Applying the triple constraint for managing projects
When changes come up in projects, cost, time and scope need to be reevaluated and balanced against each other. Here are a few examples of decisions that involve the triple constraint.
- In order to maintain the project deadline, you’ll either need to reduce deliverables or utilize more resources.
- If the scope increases, you’ll need to increase time or cost.
- In order to maintain the budget, you may need to reduce the scope.
These examples show that in order to successfully manage projects, you’ll have to make compromises that will have a negative effect on at least one factor in the triple constraint. The most important thing, however, is to satisfy the stakeholders. The best way to ensure this is to work transparently and stay in close communication with them. Stakeholders need to be able to understand your decisions so that they can better deal with the changing factors of the triple constraint.
Successful project management with the triple constraint requires transparency and communication with stakeholders
Tools for controlling the triple constraint
Keep track of the triple constraint with objectiF RPM
objectiF RPM – our software solution for project management, requirements engineering, and software development – supports you in dealing with cost, time and scope. Alongside scheduling with Gantt charts, objectiF RPM helps you control resource utilization and monitor costs. By clearly defining processes for handing requirements, documents and other information, planning reviews and sending notifications of changes with automated emails, you can maintain transparency and ensure good communication with stakeholders.
