10-24-2018, 12:06 PM
In both private (especially as organizations get larger) and public sectors, the incentives drive behaviours towards low cost initial quotes that focus almost exclusively on the happy path. A real quote that takes into consideration the real roadblocks and speed bumps that will be encountered along the way (many of which are unknowable at the outset of a project) is often times not considered due to the cost. It is absolutely the expectation that projects will run over time and over budget.
By the time it's clear to all that a project will run over, there is considerable investment in it so everyone adopts a "the only way out is through" attitude. Then it gets released, everyone wipes their brow and claps each other on the back and says "well we really got through some shit together, didn't we team!" and does it again.
There is very little meaningful reward for finishing on time or budget, but there are strong rewards in starting projects with small budgets.
I'm not saying this is a good system, but it is the reality inside the majority of organizations.
By the time it's clear to all that a project will run over, there is considerable investment in it so everyone adopts a "the only way out is through" attitude. Then it gets released, everyone wipes their brow and claps each other on the back and says "well we really got through some shit together, didn't we team!" and does it again.
There is very little meaningful reward for finishing on time or budget, but there are strong rewards in starting projects with small budgets.
I'm not saying this is a good system, but it is the reality inside the majority of organizations.