Impacts of Gold Plating on Project Management
Gold plating in project management can have several negative impacts:
- Cost Increases: As more resources and time are needed for implementation, adding features or deliverables raises costs.
- Loss of Focus: Extra features cause focus to be shifted away from the main goals of the project, which reduces the project’s priorities.
- Extended Timelines: The addition of gold plating to a project extends its duration, which might impact future projects and cause delays in their completion.
- Stakeholder Dissatisfaction: Despite their best efforts, stakeholders may find the extra features needless or be unhappy with the higher expenses and schedules.
- Compromise in Quality: Deliverables’ overall quality may suffer if quantity is prioritized over quality.
- Project Failure Risk: By adding hazards and complexity, gold plating raises the possibility of project failure.
- Scope Creep: Unnecessary additions broaden the project’s scope, which makes it harder to control project limits and causes scope creep.
What Is Gold Plating in Project Management?
Gold Plating in project management refers to the practice of adding extra features or enhancements to a project that are not necessary or requested by the client or stakeholders. It’s like adding a layer of gold to something when it’s not needed. This can happen when a team member goes beyond the original requirements or scope of the project, often with good intentions but without considering the impact on the project’s timeline, budget, or objectives. Gold plating can lead to unnecessary costs, delays, and complications, and it’s generally something project managers try to avoid to keep projects focused and efficient. Project teams can reduce the risk of gold plating and improve project outcomes by concentrating on providing value within the approved scope.
Table of Content
- What is Gold Plating in Project Management?
- Causes of Gold Plating
- Impacts of Gold Plating on Project Management
- How to Avoid Gold Plating?
- Best Practices for Preventing Gold Plating
- Examples of Gold Plating in Project Management
- Gold Plating vs Scope Creep
- Conclusion: Gold Plating in Project Management
- FAQs: Gold Plating in Project Management
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