PMcrunch

The Juggler’s Dilemma is a useful concept in assessing some overall risk factors when handling multiple projects.  The dilemma goes like this:  

1. The juggler starts juggling with 1 ball - piece of cake
2. The juggler adds a ball - no issue
3. The juggler now adds a 3rd and 4th ball - no problem
4. The juggler now shows some real skill by adding 5th, 6th, and 7th balls - pretty cool
5. Now the juggler adds an 8th ball - challenging
6. Finally the juggler adds a 9th ball - and drops them all!

The concept, of course is that there is a tipping point - in the juggler’s case, 9 balls - where the juggler went from total control of 8 balls to NO CONTROL of any balls!   What is the tipping point on your projects?  What is your Juggler’s Dilemma?  What planning can you do, and what tools can you use to control the risk of hitting a tipping point?  Can you do risk analysis and identify your tipping point?  Can you identify risk mitigation strategies to move that tipping point further out?   I find that the Juggler’s Dilemma is a great concept and provides an analogy that I can use on a regular basis.  Beyond right brain analysis, it also provides a simple "gut check", as the juggler surely FEELS something in his gut when he is getting to the tipping point! ____________________________ John Reiling, PMP Project Management Training Online Lean Six Sigma Training Online