[_sabe_]

Then I'm a "No, because" type of person. The thing is tough that most often it's not because I don't think things are possible but that I make assumptions based on who I'm talking to. For example, if I'm talking to my boss I know what costs his willing to take, so if he has an idea and I know hes not willing to pay for it, then I can just say no directly instead of getting a doomed project on my neck.

And to be honest, most projects actually go way out of time and budget. The realist would have said no, because the scope was not realistic. Now if you wilfully or just by ignorance accept the terms and scope thinking you can always stretch other peoples time and budget, that's in my book immoral, but then again, those people will end up getting the jobs i decline.

[humanrebar]

I'm with you. Pessimism and cynicism is underrated in certain circles. I wish there was more pessimism before the U.S. decided to invade Iraq (remember "slam dunk"?), before the TSA was formed, or before someone decided to make Grown Ups 2.

If anything, there's a problem with too much optimism in project management. If there isn't enough budget and schedule to let a project slip by 10%, then the answer shouldn't be "yes, if we're lucky". It should be "No, let's pick something with better margins." or "Yes, because even losing money on this is worth it for strategic reasons."