Final answer:
Bringing project workers in too early can be costly, as their expertise may not be required immediately, leading to unnecessary expenses. It's crucial to balance stakeholder engagement with cost efficiency, especially in resource-constrained environments like startups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The potential downside to bringing project workers into a project too early is that it can be costly. Bringing SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) on board before their contributions are needed can result in unnecessary expense, particularly if the project is in an early planning phase where their specific expertise isn't yet required. While it is essential to have buy-in from all stakeholders to ensure smooth operation and to incorporate valuable feedback into the project design and plan, this needs to be balanced against the cost implications. Projects, especially in settings such as young startup firms, must manage resources efficiently since funding is often limited and staff may have competing priorities with other funded projects. It's important to overcome imperfect information by engaging with and understanding the role of each project member at the right time to optimize both expenses and project outcomes.