The Project Times website highlighted the following most common project management myths.
1. Almost anybody can manage a project
To manage a project successfully, the manager must have particular knowledge, skills and tools, and be able to use these in practice. At least some basic training is necessary. The prerequisites for successful project management can be found here.
2. Project managers must be technical specialists
First of all, they must be experts on project management. If a project manager is also an expert in the field in which the project is being implemented, this can help but it is not a basic prerequisite for the job. Other people in the project team will provide the expertise.
3. Good specialists make good managers
The so-called halo effect is a distorted assessment of people based on the first or the strongest impression they make on us. Companies often apply this in the expectation that a good specialist in a particular field will be a good project manager if promoted. But usually this doesn't work.
4. Documentation is unnecessary
This is a mistaken assumption of not only managers but also team members. If anyone objects, they argue that the paperwork will be completed later, which, however, never happens. Each project needs documentation, the extent of which depends on the project's nature, size and complexity. Sometimes it might be very short but it can't be completely absent.
5. Agile methodologies are the best
No project management methodology is good or bad. Appropriate methodology should always be selected based on the project's requirements.
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