Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
From confusing process groups with project phases to viewing Agile as an anarchic way of working or project managers as mere trackers of budget, schedule, and scope, misconceptions about project management abound. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what’s the most eye-roll-worthy myth you’ve come across? Saving Changes...
One big myth is that risk management is a one-time activity. In reality, risks change throughout a project, and regular reviews are crucial. In one case, a new risk emerged midway, and because we had ongoing assessments, we caught it early and avoided major issues. What’s a myth you’ve encountered? Saving Changes...
Stakeholder management. Poorly understanding of stakeholder management can lead to misunderstandings, resulting in scope creep and other project risks such as misaligned priorities, delays, and budget overruns. Saving Changes...
Project & PMO Manager | Research & Enterprise Mentor| GFB HoldingSouth America, Brazil
Good morning, in my option, the biggest myth I've seen, especially in companies where project management isn't a core skill, is that it's just about tracking money, time, and what's being delivered. People think project managers are just glorified taskmasters, which leads to a lot of problems. Stakeholders don't understand the need for planning, and teams might see Agile as a way to avoid rules. This happens because there's a lack of understanding about what project management really is.
To fix this, we need to educate everyone. Stakeholders should learn how projects work and how they can help. Teams need training on things like Agile and how to communicate effectively. By teaching people the right skills and changing their mindset, we can make projects run much smoother and get better results. Project management is about more than just tracking things; it's about leading teams and solving problems to achieve success. Saving Changes...
Hi. In my experience, misconceptions occur in various aspects of project management, but the one I’ve had to clarify most often is the confusion between the work breakdown structure (WBS), which defines the project scope, and the schedule, which represents the timeline. Of course, schedule is part of the WBS, but losing sight of the priority—scope—versus what comes second—timelines—can lead to various issues. The most common is when the WBS is treated as a "to-do list" rather than a tool for scope management. Saving Changes...
One of the most common misunderstandings or myths is the belief that the Project Manager must be a "nanny" for the members of the work team, keeping an eye on every step they take. On the contrary, a good Project Manager knows the qualities, capabilities, and also defects of each member of his team, knows how to delegate and let the employee take charge of his responsibilities, intervening appropriately when required. Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Great question!
One myth that always makes me raise an eyebrow is the idea that project management is just about ‘ticking boxes’—budget, scope, schedule—and that the project manager is essentially a glorified timekeeper.
This overlooks the true essence of the role: leadership, stakeholder engagement, strategic alignment, and continuous value delivery.
Another persistent misunderstanding is confusing Agile with chaos or lack of structure. Agile has discipline—it’s just a different kind.
The structure is built around adaptability, customer collaboration, and iterative delivery, not rigid plans carved in stone.
It’s not 'no process'—it’s the right process for a complex, changing environment.
And yes, mistaking process groups (like Initiating, Planning, Executing…) for project phases (like Feasibility, Design, Deployment…) is a classic mix-up that I still see even in experienced circles.
It matters because it reflects how people frame and navigate project lifecycles.
At the end of the day, these myths often come from a superficial view of the discipline.
True project management is part art, part science—and when done well, it's a catalyst for transformation.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Project management itself. Including it do not understand what approaches is. Unfortunately the PMI has contribute a lot on this. For example, to contribute to general confusion about agile and waterfall (they are not matter of comparison because the first one is an approach and the second one is a life cycle) or to map agile to software only. Saving Changes...
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