Scope Creep
Uncontrolled expansion of scope without adjustments to time, cost, or resources.
Detailed Explanation
Scope creep is the uncontrolled expansion of product or project scope without corresponding adjustments to time, cost, and resources. It occurs when new features, requirements, or tasks are added without going through the formal change control process.
Scope creep is one of the top causes of project failure. It erodes the project baseline gradually — each small addition seems harmless, but cumulatively they can blow the budget, extend the schedule, and exhaust the team. Unlike gold plating (which is team-initiated), scope creep often comes from stakeholders or vague requirements.
Prevention requires: a clear scope statement, strong change control processes, a firm but diplomatic PM who can push back on unauthorized additions, and stakeholder education about the impact of scope changes on the project constraints.
Key Points
- Unauthorized additions to scope without adjusting constraints
- Top cause of project failure across industries
- Differs from gold plating — scope creep is often stakeholder-driven
- Prevented by clear scope statement and change control
- Each small addition seems harmless but cumulative impact is devastating
- PM must be firm but diplomatic in pushing back
Practical Example
A website project has a clear scope: 10 pages, mobile responsive, basic SEO. During development, the client casually asks for 'a few small things' — blog section, email newsletter integration, customer portal, and multi-language support. Each request is treated as a small addition. Without change control, the project grows 60% beyond original scope, blowing the budget by EUR 40K and timeline by 6 weeks.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Define scope clearly in the scope statement and get formal sign-off
Implement change control from day one — not when problems appear
When stakeholders request additions, always ask: 'What is the impact on schedule and budget?'
Educate stakeholders that saying yes to everything means failing at the original commitments
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