The Fast, Good, Cheap Trilemma
The Fast, Good, Cheap trilemma explains why no project can be quick, affordable, and high-quality at the same time. You can only ever choose two. Fast and good requires experience and focus, which comes at a cost. Good and cheap takes time and flexibility. Fast and cheap almost always leads to compromised quality and costly fixes later. This isn’t a flaw in the process — it’s a reality of how time, cost, and craftsmanship work. Successful projects start by choosing priorities early, keeping expectations aligned and outcomes consistent.
TRANSCRIPT
Alright, let’s talk about something every business runs into sooner or later… the Fast, Good, Cheap trilemma.If you’ve ever kicked off a project and wondered why it can’t be quick, affordable, and high-quality all at the same time — this is why. You only ever get two.Here’s how it works.If you want something fast and good, it won’t be cheap — because quality delivered quickly takes focus and experience.If you want something good and cheap, it’s not going to be fast — you’re fitting into someone else’s spare capacity.And fast and cheap? Well… we all know how that story ends. Corners get cut, things get missed, and you often end up paying for it later anyway.This isn’t negative — it’s just how time, cost, and craftsmanship behave in the real world.Smart teams decide which two matter most before the work begins. That’s how expectations stay aligned and outcomes stay consistent.And if you’re wondering where Digital Elements sits in this trilemma…our clients tell us we’re fast and good.”*