Project management triangle
The Project Management Triangle (also called the Iron Triangle or Triple Constraint) is a model that represents the key constraints of any project:
- Scope – The features, functionalities, and deliverables of the project.
- Time – The project timeline, deadlines, and schedules.
- Cost – The budget, resources, and financial constraints.
The core idea is that changing one constraint affects the others. The principle is often summarized as:
"Fast, cheap, or good—pick two."
Application in Software Engineering
Example 1: Tight Deadline (Time Constraint)
A company wants to release a new mobile app within 3 months. To meet this deadline:
- Scope might need to be reduced (e.g., launch with only essential features).
- Costs might increase (e.g., hiring extra developers or using third-party tools to speed up development).
Example 2: Limited Budget (Cost Constraint)
A startup has a fixed budget for building an e-commerce platform. To stay within budget:
- Time might need to be extended (e.g., a smaller team takes longer to develop).
- Scope might be reduced (e.g., launch with a basic checkout system, adding features later).
Example 3: High-Quality Features (Scope Constraint)
A client wants a feature-rich CRM system with AI-powered analytics and automation. To achieve this:
- More time might be needed (e.g., thorough development and testing phases).
- Higher costs might be incurred (e.g., hiring AI experts, using cloud services).