Percent Complete Is a Lie cover art
TRACK 07

Percent Complete Is a Lie

(Show Me the Buffer)

You've heard '90% done' too many times. Use the buffer burn and remaining duration to track progress. Percent complete is for suckers; fever charts are your friend.

// LYRICS

[Verse 1]
Ninety percent Monday
Ninety percent twice
Ninety percent Friday
Doesn't that sound nice

The last ten percent
Has the unknown test
The integration problem
And the part no one guessed

[Chorus]
Percent complete is a lie
Show me the buffer
Show me what we burned
And how much road we covered

Percent complete is a lie
Pretty numbers fade
The buffer tells the story
Before the due dates break

[Verse 2]
Green means keep moving
Yellow means pay attention
Red means act now
While there is time for intervention

Do not ask for comfort
Do not ask for spin
Ask how much protection
The project still has left

[Bridge]
A task can be almost finished
Until the end of time
A buffer burns in public
And gives you time to act

[Final Chorus]
Percent complete is a lie
Show me the buffer
Show me progress
Show me trouble

Percent complete is a lie
Pretty numbers fade
The buffer tells the truth
Before the schedule breaks