The research on traditional information technology projects is chilling: between 25 and 75 percent of projects are over budget and past deadline. Chronic project mismanagement is particularly a concern when customers perceive all providers in a given area to have similar technical capabilities. To compete, you could lower prices. Or you could gain the reputation for more consistently meeting deadlines, budgets and goals—before another company does.
Today, time is as important as cost and quality. Time to market is critical. Time to respond to a client request is critical. Time to incorporate change is critical. When under a tight schedule, keep in mind that clients remember meeting schedule commitment, NOT reduced scope.