A ratio above 1.0 is mathematical proof of failure — no…
Maintain a commitment-to-capacity ratio below 0.85 to accommodate variance, treating any ratio above 1.0 as mathematical proof that some commitments will fail regardless of willpower or prioritization.
When This Fires
- During any planning session — weekly, sprint, monthly, annual
- When accepting a new commitment that would push the ratio above 0.85
- When reviewing active commitments and calculating whether they fit available capacity
- Any moment where "I'll make it work" is the response to obvious overcommitment
Common Failure Mode
Believing willpower can override arithmetic: "I know the ratio is 1.1, but I'll work harder." You can't work 110% of available hours. The 10% overflow becomes late deliveries, dropped quality, broken promises, and eroded trust — the exact outcomes that capacity management is designed to prevent.
The Protocol
Regularly calculate your commitment-to-capacity ratio: (1) Sum all committed hours for the period. (2) Divide by measured available capacity hours (not theoretical maximum — measured; see Plan from your average capacity, not your best day — five…). (3) If ratio ≤ 0.85 → healthy. Accept new work cautiously. (4) If 0.85-1.0 → warning zone. Counter-offer any new requests (Above 0.85 capacity, counter-offer new requests…). (5) If > 1.0 → failure guaranteed. Immediately cut, defer, or delegate until the ratio drops below 0.85. The math is non-negotiable.