Managing Project Deadlines

This article discusses how to negotiate an unrealistic project deadline. In the article, Tres Roeder provides his recommendations for managing project deadlines.

“My recommendation to project managers is that instead of saying ‘no,’ lay out options for the person/people asking for the unrealistic timeline,” says Tres Roeder, president of Roeder Consulting in Cleveland. “Explain the trade-offs. For example, the project manager might say, ‘I can deliver the project by that deadline if I receive more resources.’”

“Using the approach of giving options, instead of saying ‘no,’ or arguing the timeline is unrealistic, puts the decision-maker in the position of well, making the decision,” he says. “They can determine if the trade-offs are worth it. This way, the project manager is not seen as an obstacle, but instead as a problem-solver presenting options.”