Skip to main content

Cheap, Good, Fast. Who wins?

cheap-good-fast-who-wins

If there's one thing we've all learned about projects both personally and professionally, it's that "Good, Fast and Cheap" have an impact one way or the other on the outcome of a project or purchase. We all know this, but we seem to forget this when push comes to shove. I think about this often as our teams are sometimes pushed to try and supply all three. These are usually the projects that falter in expectations from one angle or another to someone. We can't be all three and be successful as a team, as a company or deliver great customer service. The typical premise behind this vicious triangle is:

  • Cheap and Good - Won't be Fast
  • Cheap and Fast - Won't be Good
  • Fast and Good - Won't be Cheap

The normal response to Good, Fast, Cheap is picking two. I say pick the order and stick to it. There is always one that stands out the most and drives a buying decision. Then one falls slightly short in second place, and then third place just gets thrown out the window. Know the order of importance because they all play a role. Buyer and vendor need to know and agree on the importance.

This is really simple if you think about it, but we make it difficult. Let's use the restaurant business as an example. Fast Food, of course, is fast due to the drive-thru, then in second place is price and in third place is generally quality of the food. No special experience in fast food. Moving up to the walk-in restaurant, price wins over fast since you have to stop and sit down to eat. Then you have the wonderful full service, high-end restaurant, landing food and service quality first, a slower pace to experience and allow the quality of the food in second, and of course, a higher premium price.

In our daily world of AV and Technology, our projects are generally one of the last in the door and when the rest of the trades have fallen behind, schedules compressed, change orders still happening and the end deadline not changing, we are pushed to still perform and meet deadlines. Good, Fast and Cheap suddenly change and they are fighting each other to win. In reality, no one wins, from technicians to the clients, to the budget.

I truly applaud project managers out there that eloquently set expectations for their clients. Communicate clearly all obstacles that will change the end result where, when and how the impact will happen. And it does happen. Projects have twists and turns. For those bully's pushing your teams beyond expectations and reality on the order of Cheap, Good, Fast, shame on you. Communicate better with everyone involved and let the teams be successful. We have all been on the giving and receiving end of such pressure.

Let's all agree that we need to step back and, whether on the receiving or giving end of a project, know, understand and follow the order of importance, and especially realize the price we all pay if we change those expectations before the project is completed. Which one needs to win? Not all three can win. Simple. Did you set clear expectations?

Special thanks to our teams who have gone above and beyond when expectations change on the fly. We appreciate all your hard work. Remember, quality should win!

The Importance of the Home Network
Extending Your Service, and Your Sanity

Tags

Samsung Commercial IT Wi-Fi 6 Tunable Lighting Distributed Audio Alarm.com Surround Sound Smart Home System video Ketra Sonos AV as a Service Conference Room Automation Energy Managment Media Room QSC Control4 Dealer maintenance Energy Efficient LED digital signage system integration Savant Video Walls Whole Home Audio Network Cabling Service Unified Communications Generac Commercial Technology video-tele conferencing Mcintosh Conferencing Solutions Audio Distribution smart home control Air Media 2.0 Zoom Rooms AV Integration Soundmasking Home Lighting Control Smart Security Motorized Shading Hidden Audio Whole Home AV Acoustic Treatments Hospitality AV Wi-Fi Control4 Showroom Access Control smart home automation Home Networking Teams Hi-fi Audio Josh.ai Sony Commercial Networking Residential Solutions Remote Monitoring texadia systems AV Solutions Outdoor TV commercial automation 4K Surveillance Energy Efficient Power Management SurgeX UCaaS Audio Video Distribution Home Networking Installation LED Lights Hotel AV Conferencing System 4K Commercial Network Interactive Displays Commercial Security Lutron Tunable LED Lighting home automation system Home Upgrades Network Services Video Conferencing System Boardroom Technology MicroLED LED Lighting Google Meet Structured Cabling AvaaS Mersive Home Network Home Automation AV Distribution Conference Room Technology Energy Efficiency Smart Lighting DMF Lighting LED Video Walls Voice Control Cabling Installation Crestron AirMedia Cabling commercial networking media room Smart Home Installation smart home Conference Room AV Microphones Teams Rooms Zoom Hidden AV High-End Audio Landscape Lighting Commercial Automation Automation System Audio Video Installation AV Technology Video Conferencing Automated Shades Smart Home Technology Home Theater Conferencing AV Audiovisual Equipment Audiovisual Texadia Conferencing Technology Home Theater Installations Sound Masking Crestron Klipsch Digital Signage Touchless Technology Home Theater Installation Lighting Design Home Audio Video Smart Home Automation Control4 Outdoor AV Multi-Room Audio Energy Management Outdoor Entertainment Acoustics Electric Vehicle Home Theaters Motorized Shades Circadian Lighting Energy Control Residential AV Home Security residential av Conference Room JBL Lighting Control Smart Home Company Home Automation System Motorized Window Treatments Wireless Access Points Lighting Surveillance Cameras Smart Locks Team Rooms Meeting Room AV Climate Control IoT Outdoor Audio Video Analytics Smart Lighting Control Coastal Source Soundproofing Whole-Home Audio Commercial AV audio new year Custom AV Sonance Commercial Automation System Draper Structured Wiring Networking HomeWorks Lutron Shades LED Display Microsoft Teams commercial av Recording Studio 2019 DIY LED Home Networks Verkada
Subscribe to Inspiration
Stay up to date on the latest smart technology ideas and innovations.

Powered By One Firefly   |    Sitemap   |    Privacy Policy


https://www.cigna.com/legal/compliance/machine-readable-files

This link leads to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.