<rant>
So today the "project manager" of the impossible-deadline project inflicted upon us last week asks us what our major issues were. Well, pretty much doing all of it, but we were still working out the detailed tech requirements. So she asks my coworker whether the high-level requirements are understood. We both say yes they are understood, we're just working on how to implement what the customer wants, and there are issues. Then the kicker question: will the issues affect the schedule? The answer that both of us managed NOT to state: DUH! What do you care? Did you care what the challenges were when you set the schedule? NO! You set the schedule without regard to technical difficulties, resources, none of that. So it is disingenuous to ask now whether the challenges we run into will affect the schedule! It's not like we have a choice! By golly we will figure out something but stop asking us dumb questions. Unless we get more time, which we won't, the conversations are pointless!
It's a good thing these meetings aren't in person, otherwise body language would give my thoughts away totally.
</rant>

What rubs me wrong - is that the project lead is put into a position to meet such a deadline - and then expected to "say" he/she will meeting the deadline (with scheduled milestones) so that he/she is then held accountable for saying they could meet said deadline. And all along - they never agreed to it from the start.
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