Gold plating (analogy)
Encyclopedia
Gold plating in software engineering
(or time management
in general) refers to continuing to work on a project or task well past the point where the extra effort is worth the value it adds (if any). After having met the requirements, the developer works on further enhancing the product, thinking the customer would be delighted to see additional or more polished features, rather than what was asked for or expected. The customer might be disappointed in the results, and the extra effort by the developer might be futile.
Gold plating is also considered as a bad project management practice for different project management best practices and methodologies such as: Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBoK) and Prince 2. In this case, gold plating refers to the addition of any feature not considered in the original scope plan (PMBoK) or business case (Prince2) at any point of the project since it introduces a new source of risks to the original planning i.e. additional testing, documentation, costs, timelines, etc. However, gold plating does not prevent new features from being added to the project, they can be added at any time as long as they follow the official change procedure and the impact of the change in all the areas of the project is taken into consideration.
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
(or time management
Time management
Time management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific...
in general) refers to continuing to work on a project or task well past the point where the extra effort is worth the value it adds (if any). After having met the requirements, the developer works on further enhancing the product, thinking the customer would be delighted to see additional or more polished features, rather than what was asked for or expected. The customer might be disappointed in the results, and the extra effort by the developer might be futile.
Gold plating is also considered as a bad project management practice for different project management best practices and methodologies such as: Project Management Body of Knowledge
Project Management Body of Knowledge
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge is a book which presents a set of standard terminology and guidelines for project management. The Fourth Edition was recognized by the American National Standards Institute as an American National Standard...
(PMBoK) and Prince 2. In this case, gold plating refers to the addition of any feature not considered in the original scope plan (PMBoK) or business case (Prince2) at any point of the project since it introduces a new source of risks to the original planning i.e. additional testing, documentation, costs, timelines, etc. However, gold plating does not prevent new features from being added to the project, they can be added at any time as long as they follow the official change procedure and the impact of the change in all the areas of the project is taken into consideration.
See also
- Second-system effectSecond-system effectThe second-system effect refers to the tendency of small, elegant, and successful systems to have elephantine, feature-laden monstrosities as their successors. The term was first used by Fred Brooks in his classic The Mythical Man-Month...
- Scope creepScope creepScope Creep in project management refers to uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope. This phenomenon can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled...
- Project Management Body of KnowledgeProject Management Body of KnowledgeA Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge is a book which presents a set of standard terminology and guidelines for project management. The Fourth Edition was recognized by the American National Standards Institute as an American National Standard...
- Prince 2