Managing timeboxes

It consists in allotting an agreed quantity of time to accomplish a task. This concept comes from Agile approach.

It is a way to tackle a task that is not easy to be planned. The main one is split into smaller and consecutive jobs. These would form a chain; the former result will be the latter input. In Agile approach, the whole team is involved in the enterprise. Each result improve the definition of the final output. This, usually, takes the form of a storyboard.
In this way the customers, who participate to the endeavour, can evaluate the chances of getting the result. On this basis, they can influence the output.

It requires creating a capsule, where one or few people possessing sufficient skills and resources can deliver quicker and better results. The pressure of time gives energy to them. The sense of affiliation increases the communication system inside the group. It works if the bubble doesn’t burst.

It could be the internal pressure (poor leadership).
Another cause could be the lack of external interest; when the outputs are not synchronized and or aligned with the project scope.

This group shall be managed externally. It is part of the whole project, an essential share that must be integrated (at the capsule opening) with remaining stakeholders.

For this elitist nature (only the brightest and the best can join the team), this approach should be limited to the initial phases of the projects. When the people aspirations will be transformed in objectives. Thefore the business case can be issued.
An example:

1. Eliciting requirements that will create the foundation of the project scope.
2. Devising the architecture.

In both cases the scope of each task is clear, therefore the time (then money) allocation is easy to be managed.
The planning and then production phases need a much more prosaic approach.