When is a Project Completed?

From an engineer's perspective, a project is completed when the uncertainty is zero. Obviously, we cannot quantify uncertainty, but it is useful to discuss the concept in the abstract. We can usually define uncertainty as unknowns which will have a material impact on our project.

A project engineer should endeavor to reduce uncertainty wherever possible. We can visualize a graph with uncertainty approaching zero in a generally linear fashion. Projects rarely transpire in this way, which is why firefighting is so commonplace. The appearance of substantial uncertainty at the end of projects is a problem with many causes. Future essays will deal with the ways project teams trip themselves up by failing to reduce uncertainty.