Some organization’s projects have been criticised for being poorly planned and managed and having unrealistic cost and time projections assigned to them. The reason behind these problems or mistakes is said to be down to a lack of communication through the different levels within the project management team. However I believe that communication barriers are in fact only one of many possible mistakes that a project management team could make.

1. Common Mistakes in Project
Management

2. Matching resources to the wrong
projects
• This is seen as a
critical element in
project management
success
• The matching up
process should ensure
that the resources
skills are able to meet
the projects
expectations

3. Project Manager lacks the necessary
experience required
• Controlling a project is
hard if the PM doesn’t
have the experience
behind the project
• Experience in project
status meetings,
managing risk and
dealing with project
stakeholders is very
important

4. Project Scope isn’t being managed
properly
• A process should be Individual
in place to deal with needs to give
details of
changes being
changes in scope made
• Sample process Submit
change
Impact the
changes will
have on
request
budget
Individual
Impact
gives his/ her
changes will
backing of
have on time
changes

5. Poor scheduling
• Poor scheduling can have
a negative knock on
affect on subsequent
projects
• Project Manager needs to
spend an adequate
amount of time on the
schedule to ensure
enough time is spent on
the project in order for it
to reach its goals and
keeping a consistent level
of quality

6. I am the BOSS!!!
• Don’t practice the notion,
“I am the boss”!!!
• Not advisable to go on a
power trip and
discourage your team
members
• Your project team
members can sometimes
be more aware of
impending challenges or
issues with a project.

7. Be realistic in your thinking
• Very easy to go at a
project without a solid
plan behind it
• Very important to
make sure enough
resources, time and
budget are available
for the project
• Don’t under-estimate
your needs

8. Don’t ignore the problem
• Ignoring problems
just make them
worse
• Very easy to put off
dealing with the
problems – PM
should ‘eat that frog’
and tackle the
problems head on

9. S.O.S.
• Ask for help if you
don’t know
something, put your
ego to one side
• Overconfidence could
severely damage
your reputation and
your project

10. Yes man!!
• You don’t always
have to say yes
• Nobody can be
expected to do
everything they are
asked
• Work hard and
concentrate on the
task at hand

11. Mistakes happen
• Project go wrong and
sometimes fail
• May or may not be
your fault
• Important not to
dwell on the past and
affect your current
projects
• Forgive yourself