Time Constraints: Having Time and Making Time

“Clock time,” that immutable force of nature that has to be dealt with when synchronizing and coordinating the actions of technological innovation, can be a significant constraint. We often treat it in this way, as if it were a completely external constraint, using a phrase like “There isn’t time to try that,” which can translate as “End of discussion.” But our relationship to time is worth discussing because our assumptions about the amount of time we have, about when something needs to get done, or even about how we will use the time we have may create significant yet avoidable constraints that, unlike clock time, can be overcome.

Sequencing and Coordination Requirements

Certain complex projects or tasks require that things be done in a particular order. For example, you would not put the hubcaps on the wheels of a car before attaching the wheels to the axles, just as you would not hire a caterer without first deciding what kind of food you want to serve. There are other kinds of tasks for which the constituent parts can be performed in any order or even in parallel. When digging a ditch, I can start at either end, and additional help from someone starting at the other end can make the job go that much faster. Not recognizing the difference between these two kinds of tasks can be a significant source of constraint.