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

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