When faced with uncertainty on how to tackle a part of the project, it can be beneficial to identify what you cannot do. Understanding the constraints within which you are working can point you in the right direction.

Creativity requires structure. Freedom is only realized in a well-defined structure. The more restrictions you have, the more freedom you’ll have. Unrestricted creativity usually leads to chaos because there is no strategy involved.

Quincy Jones, 12 Notes on Life and Creativity

Rarely do we begin any project with a blank slate. Every product development project will have visible and invisible constraints. Identifying these constraints can play an important role in how you develop your product.

Visible constraints often stem from inside the business, such as people’s skills or experience. Other visible constraints might be a specific customer requirement or limited amount of equipment or resources at your disposal.

For instance, if you don’t have a specific piece of test equipment can you find somebody who does and ask to borrow it? If you have to build a prototype in a limited time frame can it be done using only readily available parts?

Invisible constraints are akin to blind spots. They may be constraints you’re unaware of until you encounter them. Invisible constraints could be unfamiliar regulatory requirements which have to be met or even the immutable laws of physics!

Constraints may seem like roadblocks or distractions, but they are never the mission; they can, however, guide you toward a solution. Identifying constraints quickly provides clarity and keeps you focused on the end goal, minimizing distractions.

Consider the case of the space shuttle’s solid rocket booster (SRB). Built in Utah due to its dry climate, the SRBs were then transported to Cape Canaveral by rail because of their weight. This constraint meant the SRBs were designed in sections to fit through tunnels.

Constraints act as signposts directing you toward success while steering you away from trouble. Identifying constraints early on helps define key aspects of your product development and reducing the risk of missteps or wasting time.

When feeling stuck or unsure about your project, pause and evaluate the constraints:

• Do we fully understand all the constraints we are working within?
• What are the major constraints that cannot be changed or ignored?
• Have we identified new risks or issues from these constraints?
• In which direction are these constraints pointing us toward?
• How can we change our plan to move in that direction?