There’s a saying in engineering: You can build things…
““There’s a saying in engineering: You can build things cheap, fast, or right, but not all three.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
You can achieve only two of the three attributes—low cost, speed, or quality—simultaneously; the third must be compromised.
In simple terms: Trade‑offs exist among cost, speed, and quality.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize which two factors matter most for your project.
Themes
engineering
trade‑offs
project management
efficiency
quality
Mood
pragmatic
analytical
Type
instructional
cautionary
When to use this quote
- product development
- software rollout
- construction planning
- startup launches
Key Concepts
systems engineering
resource allocation
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- Which two attributes should you prioritize?
- How do you mitigate the sacrificed factor?
A Different Perspective
May lead to suboptimal outcomes if the compromised factor is critical.