Every project has targets — schedule, budget, scope, and performance. The problem? Not everyone agrees on who actually sets them.

In this episode of The Constructive Criticism Podcast, we break down The External Tug of War — the constant push and pull between owners, architects, contractors, lenders, and regulators, all pulling in different directions while expecting the same outcome.

We dig into:

• Who really sets project targets — and who just inherits them
• How unrealistic budgets and schedules get locked in early
• Why targets shift without accountability once construction starts
• The role lenders, funding sources, and public requirements quietly play
• How misaligned targets turn into change orders, delays, and finger-pointing

This isn’t about blaming one party. It’s about exposing how misaligned expectations at the front end create downstream chaos — and why most projects are set up to fight themselves before they ever break ground.

If you’ve ever been handed a schedule or budget and told to “make it work,” this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.