In: Operations Management
When it comes to a project, if a project manager were to pad their time when creating our schedule are we being unethical? Where do we draw the line?
If a project manager is padding time while creating a schedule, I don't feel that it is unethical because each and every project should have some buffer time that will actually safeguard the objective of the project in cases of unpredictable delays. A project manager while planning may unable to ascertain the criticality of certain aspects in the project that may lead to unpredictable delays and therefore the project should have some buffer time in order to manage such issues and I feel that it is completely normal because maintaining the quality of the project is also important but the buffer time should not be very much and generally a maximum of ten percent of the total time is maintained as buffer in the project and that too depends upon the type of project. For example if the project is a fixed budget project then the buffer may be a bit more but when the project has been allocated money based on the time spent then the buffer time is generally low because that is a bit unethical for the client. So depending upon the type of finance the manager needs to draw the line.