Page 122 - Project+

have a due date that is required by the project sponsor for the project. Let’s also say the

company is undergoing some financial difficulties and you’ve just learned that the
budget for your project has been reduced. The budget reduction is so significant it now
becomes the primary constraint on your project.

Interaction Between Constraints

An example of interaction between constraints may occur when you have changes to
scope that in turn impact the schedule and/or budget. Scope can change through the
formal change control process or through scope creep. Perhaps your project sponsor

has decided you need one more deliverable in order to satisfy the overall goals and
objectives of the project. This is approved in a formal change request process.
However, scope changes require schedule changes, and they often require budget
changes as well. The interaction here is like a domino effect, and all the constraints
should be reexamined to ensure that they still accurately reflect the conditions of the
project. This interaction may also cause a reprioritization of the constraints.

Stakeholders, Sponsors, and Management, Oh My
Project sponsors and executive management are notorious for changing project

priorities on a moment’s notice. Today they want deliverable A; tomorrow they want
Deliverable Z. It’s a constantly changing target! They also sometimes lose interest in
the project. Newer projects may gain in importance in the organization (or wane),
causing changes to your project that could bring about new constraints or change
existing ones. For example, if your project is time-constrained and another project
comes along that rises in importance, you may lose resources or budget to the new

project, which will bring about new constraints on your project. In my experience, the
single biggest influence on project constraints is sponsors and executive management
changing their priorities.

A Sample Scope Statement

You have been asked to set up a fundraising project for your school. Here is a
sample of what your scope statement might look like:

Project Objective (from the Project Charter) Establish a fundraising golf
tournament to raise $20,000.

Project Description Hold a golf tournament the last week of the school year to
raise funds for classroom equipment and resources. Our target goal is $20,000 in
donations.

Acceptance Criteria Golf tournament raises $20,000. Participants enjoy the
tournament and recommend it to their friends next year.

Key Deliverables The major deliverables are as follows:

122