On twitter there are several threads which speak to an underlying issue of managing in the presence of uncertainty. Ranging from we can make decisions without estimating to you can't possibly estimate the outcomes that occur in the future to the notion that my idea doesn't need to be tested outside my personal anecdotal experience. All the way to my idea violates the core principles of business decision making, but please apply it anyway.
The principles of successful project management are applicable across a broad spectrum of domains, when there is a value at risk sufficient to be concerned about on the part of those funding the project. Insufficient concern about loss of the investment? No one cares what you do or how you do it.
But if we have a non-trivial projects, here's five immutable principles for managing in the presence of uncertainty when spending other people's money
But these principles need processes and practices. There's a book on that Performance-Based Project Management®. But there's all tons of other resources as well. Here's one we're applying currently in our domain
So when you hear we can't or don't need estimate what will happen in the future what you are really hearing is we have no intention of managing in the presence of uncertainty.
