In our previous article (should we insert the link here, easy to search), We have debunked several misconceptions people have about project management and in today’s article, we will be discussing a few more of them. 

Some may say that following the best practices will ensure that your project will be a definite success. This however is far from the truth as there is no one golden formula or practice to ensure a successful project. These best practices should merely serve as a guide for you, the project manager, to tailor it to your project. In simpler terms do not merely just adopt them but adapt them.  For instance, in ViTrox, the implementation of the IPD framework is not similar to the IPD framework applied by Huawei as the business nature and subsequently, the project types would vary. 

One common belief that people have in regard to choosing which project management method to follow is that you only need to follow a project management method and you’re good to go. This however is not the case as by adopting merely a single practice, the project team would be limited in options and may lose out on potential benefits other practices may bring. In other words, there is no one size fits all solution. There is no rule states that you can't borrow principles from multiple methods and combine these to form one that fits your project goals, team composition, and workflow. Finding the best method may depend on various factors such as industry, project type and complexity, required completion speed, and comprehensiveness. 

Some people believe that a project needs to be closely monitored and controlled for it to be successful. Many people also think that a project manager is the one who makes all the decisions and calls the shots but that is far from the truth. This is because monitoring and controlling a project too tightly may result in the project manager losing track of the bigger picture and may also result in dissatisfaction among team members. The project decisions should be regarded as a group effort where everyone agrees on a key and rhythm, while the project manager coordinates and leads the team. 

Though methodologies and processes are important in a project, they are not important enough to steamroll colleagues. One of the key resources in any project is the project team members and emphasis should be placed on them as they are the ones who execute the plan. Pushing too hard just to make something work without considering the work habits of team members, limitations of the time and space or the reality of deliverables will hurt the project more than moving it forward. Processes are fallible and sometimes a more flexible approach is needed. 

Some believe that following everything on a project plan would mean that your project is bound to succeed but in actual fact, sometimes projects may achieve success in unpredictable ways. If you blindly follow a plan, you may overlook the possibilities emerging right in front of you. Blindly following a project plan is like following a project roadmap made without taking into account other external factors that may impact the project. For example, changes in technology or process improvements may help expedite or bring value to the project, you may be losing out on these opportunities if you continue to stick to the initial plan without considering these factors.