Gold plating (project management)

Okay kiddo, let me explain gold plating in project management to you in simpler terms. Gold plating means giving the project more than what the customer has requested or paying for. It is like when you are making a drawing and you decide to add more colors and decorations to it, even when it is not necessary.

Gold plating can sometimes be a good thing because it shows that you care about your work and you want to make it better. But, it can also be a bad thing because it can waste time, resources and money that could be used in other important parts of the project.

In a project management context, gold plating usually happens when the team members add extra features or work that was not included in the original plan, without asking the customer if they want it or if they are willing to pay for it.

It is important for project managers to make sure that their team does not do unnecessary work that can lead to delays or extra costs. They should also communicate with the customer and ask for their approval before adding any extra work or features to the project.

So, gold plating may seem shiny like real gold, but it can sometimes cause more harm than good in project management.