The Triple Constraint in Projects and its application
Select each button with the plus sign (+) to expand the information about the variations.
Cost
Variation due to scope expansion
Variation due to time reduction
Quality
Scope
Time
Variation due to scope reduction
Variation due to time reduction
In this case, the time available to execute the project decreases. These are situations where the deadline is moved up, creating pressure on planning.
Scope
Cost
- Effect on constraints: To meet the shortened schedule, it is usually necessary to increase costs (more staff, overtime, technological resources). Alternatively, scope may be reduced by eliminating secondary deliverables.
- Practical Example: An institutional event originally planned to be organized in six months is moved up to three months. The team must either increase financial resources to meet the new deadline or reduce the scope of planned activities.
Time
- Effect on constraints: By decreasing scope, it becomes easier to reduce time and/or cost while maintaining quality in the remaining deliverables. In this scenario, essential project components are prioritized.
- Practical Example: A real estate company plans to develop a shopping center with three levels, a movie theater, and a five-story parking facility. However, due to budgetary and time limitations, the scope is adjusted to build only two commercial levels and a three-story parking facility, postponing the theater for a second project phase. This decision allows the company to meet both the budget and delivery deadlines, while maintaining the quality of what is built in the first phase.
Variation due to scope reduction
Here, the scope is limited by removing deliverables or simplifying requirements. This decision is used as a control measure when time or cost cannot be extended.
Cost
Scope
Time
Variation due to scope expansion
Cost
- Effect on constraints: To meet the new scope, an increase in execution time and/or project cost is required. If these two elements are not adjusted, the final quality may be compromised.
- Practical Example: An organization decides to add new functionalities to software under development. This means hiring more programmers or extending the delivery date, unless the expected product quality is reduced.
In this scenario, the Scope vertex moves outward from the base triangle, stretching the figure. This implies that the project scope is expanded, either by adding new deliverables, additional functions, or greater complexity in requirements.
Time
Scope
The Triple Constraint in Projects and its application
Elga Sepúlveda
Created on October 21, 2025
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Transcript
The Triple Constraint in Projects and its application
Select each button with the plus sign (+) to expand the information about the variations.
Cost
Variation due to scope expansion
Variation due to time reduction
Quality
Scope
Time
Variation due to scope reduction
Variation due to time reduction
In this case, the time available to execute the project decreases. These are situations where the deadline is moved up, creating pressure on planning.
Scope
Cost
Time
Variation due to scope reduction
Here, the scope is limited by removing deliverables or simplifying requirements. This decision is used as a control measure when time or cost cannot be extended.
Cost
Scope
Time
Variation due to scope expansion
Cost
In this scenario, the Scope vertex moves outward from the base triangle, stretching the figure. This implies that the project scope is expanded, either by adding new deliverables, additional functions, or greater complexity in requirements.
Time
Scope