Projects Are Promises Made by People Who May Not Be There to Fulfill Them

In this episode, Ricardo explains that projects are promises about a future often experienced by people other than those who originally approved or delivered them. He argues that organizations tend to exaggerate benefits, minimize long-term costs, and focus on schedules, budgets, scope, and acceptance instead of verifying whether promised outcomes materialize. Ricardo highlights the imbalance between those who gain visibility by making promises, those pressured to execute them, and those left to operate solutions and face their consequences. He offers three recommendations: involve the people who will inherit the project from the beginning, document promised benefits as carefully as deliverables, and extend accountability beyond project closure. Ultimately, he says projects must create the future used to justify their existence. Listen to the podcast to learn more!