Imagine the project triangle: Features (F), Resources (R) and
Schedule (S). Each side of the traiangle can make a choice as
follows: Accept, Optimize, Fixed.

One variation of the project tradeoff rule is as follows:

We'll ACCEPT features while OPTIMIZING our resources and maintaining
a FIXED schedule.

A parametric representation of the above assertion is as follows:

We'll ACCEPT {F, R, S} while OPTIMIZING our {F, R, S} and
maintaining a FIXED {F, R, S}.

=|JRM: Can we not simplify the preceding to say that the project 'formula' has
three variables: features, resources and lead-time and that one can maximize
only one of these variables?|=

My team currently understands this assertion but does not comprehend
critical chain project management. Also there is an overwhelming
bias for "resource ask", which means adding more sub-contractor
resources to a project that is under execution mid-stream while
trying to deliver the project against an aggressive (and sometimes
unrealistic) timeline.

I'd love to reframe the above premise and shift the project
sponsor's thinking towards CCPM and Sales Process Engg so that each
project's supply chain can be streamlined to achieve high
throughput, reduce inventory and reduce operating expense.

Thanks for sharing any ideas.

Ramu


=|JRM: CCPM does not impact on the three variables, nor does it impact on your
ability to maximize only one of them -- both are facts of reality.

CCPM provides you with a better execution (and planning) model. 'Better' in
that it provides a more effective way of dealing with uncertainty than the
critical-path method.

I'm not sure if CCPM has any special implications for Sales Process Engineering
other than allowing (actually demanding) a tighter integration of the project
environment and sales.

Specifically, in order to fully exploit the benefits of CCPM, sales will need to
'sell' the key CCPM concepts (e.g. 'late start for early completion, replacement
of time-based milestones with buffer-penetration reports, etc).

Let me know if you -- or others -- can think of other implications.|=