There is a lot about control in project management books and best practices: we need to control scope, budget, schedules, quality, etc.

It's expected of project managers that we have control over the project. But what about the uncontrollable? What about people?

People are not as easy to plan around as machines or supplies. When we put a printer on a table, we don't expect it to call in sick or start printing badly because it's having troubles at home.

But people do.

How much control do we really have on our projects?

I think we have as much control as our team gives us, as long as luck is on our side.

What do you think?