Does Fast Tracking increase project cost?

Published on: October 17, 2021
Last updated: October 18, 2022 Read in fullscreen view

Recommended for you

01 Aug 2024 The Standish Group report 83.9% of IT projects partially or completely fail 150/1772
13 Apr 2024 Lessons on Teamwork and Leadership from Chinese story book "Journey to the West" 41/949
07 Jul 2024 Top Fintech Companies in Vietnam Driving Innovation Across Digital Banking & Investment 28/44
28 Oct 2023 The GOLDEN Rules of Software Engineering 27/522
02 Nov 2021 What is Terms of Reference (ToR)? 23/1466
08 Dec 2021 What Are The 4 Types of Maintenance Strategies? 20/1031
03 Apr 2022 Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) 12/1157
05 Aug 2025 Why Doesn’t South Korea Outsource Its IT Projects Like Other Developed Countries? 10/83
24 Nov 2025 Top Blockchain Companies in Vietnam 10/27
15 Oct 2022 Project-based team model for one-off and pilot software development projects 10/730
03 Oct 2020 Outsourcing Your MVP Development - Streamlined Solutions for future 9/400
13 Oct 2021 What is Bug Convergence? Why is it important for User Acceptance Testing (UAT)? 8/684
02 Dec 2022 3 Levels of Quality in KANO Analysis Model 8/1000
18 Dec 2023 The Cone of Uncertainty in Scrum & Requirement Definition 8/643
21 Aug 2025 Top 30 Oldest IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 7/89
31 Oct 2025 The True ROI of Software Development Outsourcing for Tech Startups 7/58
13 May 2022 IT Training and Development: The most effective options for upskilling IT staff 7/1021
18 Oct 2021 Key Elements to Ramping Up a Large Team 7/1108
14 Oct 2021 Stream Story - Low land stream or fast moving stream? 6/569
22 Mar 2022 8 Mistakes Marketing Agencies or Consulting Firms Make When Outsourcing Web Development 6/324
10 May 2021 Project Audit and Second Opinion Services 6/236
24 Nov 2021 What is the Actual Cost of Hiring Cheap Developers? 6/348
12 May 2021 The Real Cost Between Outsourcing IT vs In-House: A Quick Comparison 5/401
05 Jan 2022 What Outsourcing Engagement Model is Right For You? 5/290
11 Mar 2023 Common Pain Points in Software Development Outsourcing 5/227
25 Sep 2025 A Practical Guide to Secure Online Work for Outsourced Teams 5/56
20 Jul 2022 Software Myths and Realities 4/797
05 May 2021 TIGO Magic Scale - PoC tool for you to apply dichotomous thinking before submitting RFP 4/297
09 Jan 2021 How can outsourcing enable business agility? 4/178
14 Dec 2021 The Top 10 Problems with Outsourcing Implementation and How to Solve Them 4/376
02 May 2021 Outsourcing Software Development: Avoid 8 Mistakes 4/89
16 Dec 2021 Why outsource Python development of your project? 3/444
03 Nov 2022 Questions and answers about Kano Model 3/805
21 Oct 2021 Advantages and Disadvantages of IT Outsourcing 3/321
19 Mar 2021 Selective Outsourcing of IT Functions - a new trend in business outsourcing 3/495
01 Jan 2023 Why is Vietnam the Top IT Outsourcing Destination of 2023? 3/202
07 Jul 2022 Managing Project Execution Terms 3/379
01 Jan 2023 4 New IT Outsourcing Pricing Models to consider in 2023 3/323
12 Jan 2023 Top 10 Trustworthy IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 3/262
07 Nov 2024 Outsourcing Crisis Looming: Will Trump's Policies Transform the Global IT Landscape? 3/157
04 Mar 2023 [Medium] Box-Ticking: The Management Strategy That’s Killing your Productivity 3/518
10 Apr 2024 The Parking Lot Method: Unlocking a Simple Secret to Supercharge Your Productivity 3/403
01 Jan 2024 Tech Partnerships: Choosing the Right Software Outsourcing Firm in Vietnam 3/165
08 Oct 2024 Vietnam: The Rising Star in Global Outsourcing – Trends and Costs for 2025 3/289
01 Jan 2024 12 reasons for software development outsourcing 3/146
01 Jan 2024 Software Outsourcing Questions for 2024 3/145
03 Nov 2021 7 phases of Odoo Implementation and Development: Can they be outsourced? 2/357
24 Nov 2023 The project management paradox: Achieving MORE by doing LESS 2/193
21 Oct 2022 Outsourcing Billable Rate 2/244
26 Sep 2024 Successful Project Management Techniques You Need to Look Out For 2/368
05 Jun 2023 Fractional, Part-Time (virtual) or Interim CTO: Who Will Cover Your Business Needs? 2/109
04 Jan 2021 VIETNAM AS A BIG ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION IN THE FIELD OF OUTSOURCING 2/276
12 Aug 2022 What is End-to-end project management? 2/382
01 Jan 2023 Software Development Outsourcing Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 2/268
06 Oct 2021 Intellectual property issues with outsourcing software development 2/364
02 May 2022 What Is RAID in Project Management? (With Pros and Cons) 2/734
14 Jun 2022 Example and Excel template of a RACI chart in Software Development 2/707
01 Oct 2022 Vietnam is a favorite supply of IT outsourcing services to Japan 2/230
15 May 2022 20 Common Mistakes Made by New or Inexperienced Project Managers 2/247
08 Feb 2022 Software Development: Fixed Cost or Opportunity Cost? 2/444
01 Sep 2019 Outsourcing Software To Vietnam: Facts, benefits and limitations 2/392
10 May 2021 What are things you should look for in a good IT outsourcing company? 2/405
28 Oct 2022 Expect the unexpected in 2023 - How Outsourcing Can Help? 2/184
17 Oct 2020 How Outsourcing can Improve Time Management for Better Business 2/184
08 Aug 2021 Why Nearshore Software Development is better than In-House Development? 1/174
13 Oct 2021 Why Outsourcing Software Development Services Is Gaining Traction With Non-Technical Leaders? 1/299
27 Jan 2020 Should a project manager push developers to work more hours due to mistakes of manager schedule setting? 1/412
01 Oct 2020 Handling tight project deadlines as a business analyst 1/313
15 Aug 2021 TIGO Rate Formula - Things the partners should know 1/418
31 Dec 2021 Outsourcing Software Development to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 1/289
21 Aug 2022 Forbes: IT Outsourcing Hotspot: Vietnam, A Small But Mighty Powerhouse 1/240
22 May 2022 What are common mistakes that new or inexperienced managers make? 1/243
09 Sep 2022 Close Collaboration and Communication Can Overcome the Challenges of Distributed Teams 1/129
13 Jan 2023 What are the Hourly Rates in Offshore Software Development? 1/223
03 Jan 2023 IT Outsourcing Costs: Is outsourcing really cost-effective? 1/185
02 Nov 2023 What are the pros and cons of iIT outsourcing? 1/184
02 Mar 2021 Estimate the Cost of Software Development 1/312
01 Mar 2022 Top 5 reasons why outsourcing to Vietnam is a smart move 1/262
01 Apr 2021 IT Outsourcing to vietnam: Why It Is A Good Choice? 1/258
01 Mar 2024 10 Project Management Myths 1/120
11 Mar 2024 Why You Should Hire Odoo Developers from Vietnam to Customize Your ERP System 1/89
01 May 2023 Streamline Your Business with Outsourcing 1/168
01 Jun 2025 10 Sustainable & Unique IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 1/58
01 Jan 2024 What The World Is Flat Means to IT Outsourcing 1/157
07 Dec 2023 12 project management myths to avoid 1/167
10 Jan 2024 Facts Chart: Reasons for outsourcing 1/132
17 Jan 2024 What are the benefits and challenges of using multi-sourcing or single-sourcing strategies? 1/157
04 Apr 2024 Unlock Vietnamese-Japanese outsourcing potential 1/214
01 Jan 2024 Hiring Tech Talents in Asia: An Overview of Skills, Costs, and Potential 1/148
23 Jun 2024 Best Practices for Managing Project Escalations /183
21 Jun 2024 Dead Horses and the Escalation of Commitment /123
01 Feb 2023 [InfoWorld] Is your outsourcer agile enough? /182
08 Jan 2024 Outsourcing on an As-Needed Basis /144
01 Aug 2022 Is planning "set it and forget it" or "set it and check it"? /264
02 Jun 2024 Reviving Ancient Wisdom: The Spiritual Side of Project Management /204
01 Jan 2023 Top 5 IT outsourcing countries in 2023 /254
02 Nov 2022 Difference between Change Management and Project Management /216
01 Jan 2023 Top Software Development Challenges in 2023 /275
30 Nov 2023 Project Managers, Focus on Outcomes — Not Deliverables /143
15 Nov 2023 IT Staff Augmentation Types and the Best Choice for Your Business /155
06 Jun 2022 Change Management at the Project Level /292
03 Jan 2023 Organizing your agile teams? Think about M.A.T (Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose) /333
09 May 2022 Build one to throw away vs Second-system effect: What are differences? /297
10 May 2022 Levels of Teamwork /180
02 Dec 2021 3 Ways to Avoid Scope Creep in IT Consulting /192
13 Jan 2020 Quiz: Test your understanding project cost management /568
19 Oct 2020 The hidden costs of outsourcing software development /434
11 Oct 2021 10 Myths About Low-End Project Management Software /274
12 Oct 2021 Vietnam outsourcing path - the silk road connecting ASEAN with the developed countries (EU, US, Japan...) /282
03 Nov 2022 Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing /264
16 Mar 2021 Outsource Data Engineering Services - TIGO Streamlined Solutions /234
25 Nov 2021 Low-Cost Software Development: Buy Nice or Buy Twice? /278
10 Mar 2021 The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid Before Outsourcing a Web Development Project /224

What is Fast Tracking?

Fast-tracking is a technique where activities that would have been performed sequentially using the original schedule are performed in parallel. In other words, fast tracking a project means the activities are worked on simultaneously instead of waiting for each piece to be completed separately. But fast tracking can only be applied if the activities in question can actually be overlapped.

What is the primary benefit to fast tracking?

One of the reasons that project managers will fast-track a project is that it increases productivity in the scheduling resource utilization of the project. Of course, fast-track projects will help you make up for lost time or complete the project sooner if that's necessary.

When to fast track your project?

Fast-tracking is one common approach to schedule compression; the crashing technique is the other. So, if fast-tracking a project isn’t feasible, a project team can choose to “crash” a schedule instead.

Project crashing is when you add additional resources to an activity, rather than moving up its start date.

Does Fast Tracking increase project cost?

When you need to compress a schedule, you should consider this technique first, because fast tracking usually does not involve any costs. This technique simply rearranges the activities in the original schedule.

Although fast tracking may not result in an increase in the cost, it leads to an increase in the risk, because activities now being performed in parallel may lead to needing to rework or rearrange the project. Reworking the project can also waste even more time.

As a project manager, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of fast tracking to understand whether it will be worthwhile to undertake increased risk.

Fast Tracking increase project risk, while Crashing increases cost

Project crashing can speed up project delivery times by compressing the schedule, but there are increased costs to consider. Allocating extra resources also means that you could be taking people away from other projects.