The 7 or 8 Wastes are a core aspect of Lean teachings. But it can be challenging to work out exactly how those words apply to your business – does a cupboard full of marketing flyers count as overproduction or inventory? Does it matter as long as it’s identified as wasteful?

With that in mind, we teamed up with Travis Perkins to bring you the 8 Wastes you see in project management. Now, that may seem like an oxymoron as the whole point of project management is to ensure that something runs smoothly and effectively, and that it meets its deadline and set budget. So, surely, something designed to make you more effective is not likely to be inefficient in itself?

Well, you’d be surprised! From unnecessary tasks to pointless catch-up meetings, take a look at these common 8 Wastes of project management. If you can think of any more, add them in the comments below.

If you enjoyed learning about the 8 Wastes of project management – why not take a look at these common wastes you find in every office?