This is typical, and it's a problem that large organizations must work against. I can remember large, complex software development projects having similar fanci

This is typical, and it's a problem that large organizations must work against. I can remember large, complex software development projects having similar fanciful projections (mostly about schedules). Estimates would roll-up from low level managers and would often be completely wrong, accumulating errors as the aggregate estimates moved up the organizational hierarchy. The only thing saving the individuals responsible for such egregious estimates was "schedule chicken" where each person hoped that someone else would be the first to ask for more time than was scheduled. The first person to do so would be blamed, but everyone else benefited from the extra breathing room in the slipped schedule.