Project disclaimers

Hal Macomber reports an idea from a PM discussion group in Warning: This is NOT an accurate representation of how the project will unfold (quoting Amy Schwab of True North pgs):

Here is an example of a forward looking statement disclaimer I recently ran across in a news release about a company's new product offering. Imagine the slight change required to include this for your project -- and how it would more appropriately communicate the uncertainties included in that project:

Certain statements made by the company in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that anticipated events will occur or that expected objectives will be achieved. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to successfully market a new product in the current economic environment; changes in the demand for, pricing of, or supply of our products; competitive considerations, including possible actions by competitors and an increase in competition for our products; general economic conditions, including changing interest rates, rates of inflation and the performance of the financial markets; and various other factors. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any future revisions we may make to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Not a bad idea to include with any projections. In a previous entry Macomber talks about doing "Back to the Future" activities. He didn't elaborate, but I wonder if this is the heart of the way I have learned to plan projects: Identify the project endpoint and successively work backwards to identify the activities that must be accomplished to reach the goal.