Common Project Management Errors and Pitfalls If you were reading this chapter carefully, you noted that common errors in project management are often listed as choices on the exam. Here is a summary of some of the major errors even experienced project managers make, so that you can be sure you will not make the same mistakes. Errors include: Focusing on asking for percent complete Holding "go around the room" type status meetings Spending most of your time babysitting team members by constantly checking on them Asking to cut lo percent off the estimate Thinking a bar (Gantt) chart is a project management plan Not attempting to obtain finalized requirements Not getting real resource commitments Not having a reward system Not focusing on quality Not having a control system Not having management plans . Not measuring against the project management plan, or even creating metrics Not spending time finding and eliminating root causes of problems or deviations Not implementing corrective action to keep the project in line with the project management plan Not reevaluating the effectiveness of the project management plan Not reevaluating the accuracy or completeness of schedule, cost, scope Ignoring resource managers' need to have their people do their own departments' work Not realizing the project can affect the reputation of team members Not realizing the project manager has some human resource responsibilities to the project team, such as project job descriptions and adding letters of recommendation to team members' human resource files Blaming unrealistic schedules on management instead of realizing they are the project manager's responsibility