In any project, variance from the project plan is to be expected. But all successful projects have procedures in place, from the beginning, to deal with anticipated variances. The most successful projects minimize variances by anticipating or evaluating potential risks and addressing them as early as possible.

In short, effective "continuous variance seeking" management is the first step in effective control. The timely analysis of negative variances and trends will allow quantification and evaluation of the best available opportunities (not just a single opportunity) for attenuation, and therefore, success. For this, intricate coordination and communication are the project manager's best friend.

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