Software Engineering folklore says “Budget, quality, or speed - choose two.” But, in the context of software development, I take issue with this rhetoric, as it concerns quality. In my experience, compromising quality is not an option; it’s a foundational pillar upon which effective software development stands.

The Iron Triangle of Project Management

In management, we face difficult decisions. We have a challenging timeline. We have to deliver a whole mountain of scope. We work with inexperienced people. When faced with such a dilemma, we tend to apply the old mantra: “Budget, quality, or speed - choose two”, illustrated next: