The Buckets by Greg Cravens for June 11, 2019

I had never been loathe to take the first option when I needed to. In fact, that took me to upper management! Then I quit!!

the second option will NEVER WORK!

I still remember the stunned looks on our managers’ faces when the lead engineer told them the new schedule was impossible and he’d quit before trying to meet it. We were building cable TV systems and the sales snakes were already selling. We had just signed the contract with the city three weeks earlier.

They are having a Dilbert moment.

I know, let’s play the blame game! It’s the illustrator’s fault, not it’s the designer’s fault, no it’s managment’s fault with they unrealistic expectations. That should get us a couple of weeks.

Anything is possible depending on the quality expected in the outcome. If poor quality is no issue, then management’s unrealistic deadline is no problem. If they want quality, then the date will have to push out.

Stick figures have always worked well for XKCD.

3) Do both. Then when the project is completed, brag to upper management about how you did the impossible.

I have gotten to the point in my career where option 1 is the most reasonable option. It’s all in how you phrase the message to upper management that circumstances are going to require x more weeks to complete the task in a manner that meets the expected quality.