Solving for Project Risk Management: Understanding the Critical Role of Uncertainty in Project Management

CHAPTER 7

Trying to Do Too Much with Too Little

The Importance of Portfolio Planning

Anyone who has driven during rush hour in a big city knows that traffic can be a nightmare. The problem is worse when weather conditions are less than optimal. A rainy day can slow already congested traffic to a crawl. I almost missed a flight home from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport once because I did not consider the impact of rain on traffic. I am someone who tries to get to the airport at least two hours beforehand to make sure I make my flight, but even taking this into account was not enough. The only reason I did not miss my flight was because the rain had also delayed flights into and out of the airport.

A primary cause of the problem with ...