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https://www.stakeholdermap.com/project-dictionary/scope-creep-meaning.html
Scope Creep refers to the adding of additional features and
functionalities in a project without considering the impact on time, budget,
and resources, or without obtaining approval from the customer (M, 2023).
To handle changes in scope, Greer (2010) advises project
managers to start by staying calm and recognizing that adjustments are natural
as new information emerges. Pinpoint the exact change needed, then analyze its
impact on the project’s schedule, quality, costs, and team assignments. Discuss
the change with your team to explore alternatives that minimize disruptions.
Report the implications to the project sponsor and update the project scope and
plan, documenting all conditions and decisions. Finally, obtain written
approval from the sponsor to ensure clarity and agreement on the revised scope
and plan.
When I was hired to build a school website for a client, the
project seemed straightforward at first. The initial scope was to create a
user-friendly site that included basic pages for school information, a
calendar, and a contact form. However, as the project progressed, the client
started requesting additional features, including a parent portal, an online
payment system, and an integrated learning management system—all of which were
outside the original project plan. This added complexity and extended the
timeline beyond what was initially agreed upon.
The specific scope creep issues stemmed from unclear
boundaries and evolving client expectations. Initially, I was eager to
accommodate the client’s requests, believing that these additions would enhance
the overall project. However, as more features were added, the project started
to exceed the budget and timeline. This strained the relationship between the
client and the project team, as the client expected the added features to be
included within the original cost.
At the time, I dealt with these issues by communicating with
the client and attempting to negotiate extensions to the timeline and budget.
While this helped in managing some of the additional requests, it did not fully
address the ongoing changes. Looking back, had I been in a better position to
manage the project, I would have implemented stricter controls to prevent scope
creep. Specifically, I could have created a more detailed scope statement,
outlining not only the deliverables but also what was not included in the
project. This would have helped manage client expectations and provided a
clearer basis for negotiating changes (Project Management Institute, 2021).
Additionally, I should have formalized a process for
handling change requests. By documenting every requested change and its impact
on the timeline, budget, and resources, I could have ensured that both the
client and I had a shared understanding of the consequences of scope changes.
Using formal approvals for each change, as suggested by Kerzner (2017), would
have made the process more transparent and protected the project from
unnecessary disruptions.
In conclusion, scope creep is a common challenge in
projects, especially when the initial scope is not clearly defined or when
clients have evolving needs. Implementing strategies such as detailed scope
statements, change request procedures, and formal approvals can help prevent
scope creep from derailing a project.
References
Greer, M. (2010). The project management minimalist: Just
enough PM to rock your projects: (Laureate custom ed.). Walden University
Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: A systems approach
to planning, scheduling, and controlling (12th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
M, T. (2023). What does Scope Creep mean? Project Management
Dictionary of Terms. Stakeholdermap.Com. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from
https://www.stakeholdermap.com/project-dictionary/scope-creep-meaning.html
Project Management Institute. (2021). A guide to the project
management body of knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (7th ed.). Project Management
Institute.
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