Gold Plating
Adding extras beyond project scope that were not requested — a bad practice.
Detailed Explanation
Gold plating is the practice of providing extras or additions beyond the agreed project scope that have not been requested by the customer or sponsor. Unlike scope creep (unauthorized additions), gold plating is typically done intentionally by the project team or individual members who believe they are adding value.
PMI considers gold plating a bad practice because it consumes budget and time that could be spent on approved scope, introduces untested features that may create quality issues, and shifts resources away from stakeholder priorities. The proper channel for enhancements is the change request process.
Gold plating often stems from good intentions — a developer adds a cool feature, or a designer creates an elaborate UI beyond requirements. However, it represents unauthorized use of project resources and can delay the project, introduce bugs, or create scope the team must then support long-term.
Key Points
- Adding unrequested features or enhancements beyond scope
- Different from scope creep — gold plating is intentional by the team
- Considered a bad practice by PMI standards
- Consumes budget and time allocated for approved work
- Can introduce quality issues through untested additions
- Proper channel for enhancements is the change request process
Practical Example
A developer building an invoicing system adds an AI-powered expense categorization feature that was never requested. It takes 3 extra days, introduces a dependency on a third-party API, and delays the sprint. The client actually prefers a simpler manual categorization. The PM coaches the developer to submit enhancement ideas through the backlog refinement process instead.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Educate the team that gold plating is not going above and beyond — it is unauthorized scope
Channel enhancement ideas through backlog refinement or change requests
Review deliverables against acceptance criteria before delivery — nothing more, nothing less
Foster a culture where good ideas are captured in the backlog, not implemented ad hoc
Want to Master These Concepts?
Our courses cover all these terms in depth with practical examples and exercises.