What does the project management triangle illustrate?

The project management triangle illustrates the relationship between quality, cost, and time, which are the three critical constraints that every project manager must balance to ensure successful project completion. This triangle is often visualized with each corner representing one of these elements, highlighting how changes in one can affect the others.

For instance, if a project experiences a reduction in time (such as a tighter deadline), it might lead to increased costs or a decrease in quality, as team members may need to work overtime or cut corners to meet the new timeline. Conversely, focusing on high quality might extend the timeline or increase costs. This framework helps managers and stakeholders understand that achieving a perfect outcome is challenging because adjustments to one constraint will often necessitate compromises in at least one of the other two.

This model is fundamental in project management as it encourages planners to consider all three dimensions when making decisions and adjustments throughout the project lifecycle.