Home > Tactics > Measurement Clarity > Due Dates Over Scope
Problem: Projects can take too long if teams try to perfect every detail, leading to missed deadlines.
Solution: Set firm due dates and allow teams to adjust the project scope to meet these deadlines, ensuring steady progress without getting stuck on minor details.
Introduction: In project management, there’s often a tension between enforcing strict deadlines and allowing teams the flexibility to create innovative solutions. For us, deadlines are not about restricting creativity but rather serve as motivators that empower teams to complete meaningful work within set timeframes. Unlike traditional models that lead to burnout and stalled momentum with ever-shifting deadlines, we emphasize real progress.
We believe in “fixed time, variable scope.” By adopting this mindset, organizations can consistently ship valuable work without falling into the traps of scope creep or indefinite delays.
Tool:
- Set Firm Due Dates for Accountability. Every project should have a clear deadline.
- Rather than extending timelines, adjust project scope to meet deadlines.
- 2. Adopt Fixed-Time, Variable-Scope Intervals.
- Establish structured project cycles—such as six-week intervals—to deliver tangible results.
- Encourage teams to adjust scope rather than time, ensuring continuous progress without momentum-stalling delays.
- Foster Iterative Progress. Rather than aiming for perfection in one cycle, teams focus on building incremental improvements, leaving unresolved features for future iterations.
- Define Core Elements in Advance. In a shaping phase, identify the project’s essential elements for the upcoming timeframe.
- The scope should be clear enough to avoid ambiguity but flexible enough to encourage creativity, minimizing unexpected work mid-project.
- Sketch! Integrate sketches early in planning to visualize key project components without getting bogged down in details.
- Empower Teams with Ownership. Give teams full control over their tasks, allowing them to make real-time scope adjustments.
- Identify potential “rabbit holes” that could derail progress. A thorough review of technical assumptions and design feasibility at the outset minimizes disruptions during the cycle.
- Define any non-negotiable aspects up front to keep the team focused on core deliverables.
- Outlining “no-go” zones helps prevent the team from getting sidetracked by low-priority features.
- Reflect and Reassess Post-Cycle. After each cycle, review the outcomes and adjust the scope for future cycles. This iterative reflection keeps projects aligned with organizational goals and enhances future planning.