July 17, 2026
Writing constraints without panic
How to name what a system cannot do cheaply—without turning the memo into a complaint list.
A constraint register is useful when each item names the cost, risk, or delay it creates—and what evidence supports that claim.
Avoid adjectives without measures. “Hard to change” becomes a named change path, known owners, and the last time it was attempted.
If your list reads like frustration, rewrite once for a delivery partner who was not in the room.
