What are the best ways to determine the feasibility of a deadline?

1 Understand the scope

The first step to determine the feasibility of a deadline is to understand the scope of your program. What are the goals, objectives, deliverables, and requirements of your program? How complex, uncertain, and interdependent are they? How well do you and your stakeholders agree on them? You need to have a clear and comprehensive scope statement that defines the boundaries and expectations of your program. This will help you avoid scope creep, which can derail your schedule and budget.

3 Define the tasks

The third step is to define the tasks that make up your program. Tasks are the specific activities or work packages that need to be performed to deliver your program. You need to break down your scope into manageable and measurable tasks that have clear inputs, outputs, and criteria. You can use tools such as a work breakdown structure (WBS) or a mind map to organize your tasks hierarchically and logically. You should also assign roles and responsibilities to your team members and stakeholders for each task.

4 Sequence the tasks

The fourth step is to sequence the tasks that make up your program. Sequencing is the process of determining the order and dependencies of your tasks. You need to identify the logical relationships and constraints among your tasks, such as mandatory, discretionary, external, or internal dependencies. You can use tools such as a network diagram or a Gantt chart to visualize your task sequence and identify the critical path. The critical path is the longest sequence of tasks that determines the duration of your program.

5 Schedule the tasks

The fifth step is to schedule the tasks that make up your program. Scheduling is the process of assigning dates and durations to your tasks. You need to consider the availability and allocation of your resources, the dependencies and constraints of your tasks, and the uncertainties and risks of your estimates. You can use tools such as a project management software or a spreadsheet to create and update your schedule. You should also monitor and control your schedule regularly and communicate any changes or issues to your team and stakeholders.

6 Evaluate the deadline

The final step is to evaluate the deadline of your program. Evaluating is the process of comparing your schedule with your deadline and assessing the feasibility and suitability of both. You need to consider the expectations and priorities of your team, stakeholders, and clients, as well as the quality and value of your program. You can use tools such as a feasibility analysis, a sensitivity analysis, or a trade-off analysis to weigh the pros and cons of different scenarios and options. You should also review and revise your deadline as needed and negotiate any changes or compromises with your team and stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?