Lucas' Laws of Project Management

This article presents 'Lucas' Laws of Project Management,' a collection of three key principles for managing IT/technology projects. The first law states that a project succeeds by solving the actual problem, not by rigidly following an initial specification. The second law explains that scope cannot be fully known upfront and must evolve as the team learns more. The third law highlights the necessary trade-off between fixed dates and fixed scope, warning against pretending both can be fixed simultaneously. The article provides practical recommendations for teams to adapt and prioritize problem-solving over strict adherence to initial plans.