Scope Creep (also called "requirement creep") in project management refers to uncontrolled changes in a project's scope. This phenomenon can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, and controlled.

Typically, the scope increase consists of either new products or new features of already approved products. Hence, the project team drifts away from its original purpose. Because of one's tendency to focus on only one dimension of a project, scope creep can also result in a project team overrunning its original budget and schedule. As the scope of a project grows, more tasks must be completed at the same cost and in the same time frame as the original series of project tasks.

Scope creep can be a result of:

• poor change control
• lack of proper identification of what products and features are required to bring about the achievement of project objectives in the first place.
• weak project manager or executive sponsor

Project management

See also

• Creeping featurism
• Functionality creep
• Mission creep

References

• Wideman Comparative Glossary of Project Management Terms by R. Max Wideman P.Eng. FCSCE, FEIC, FICE, Fellow PMI

Project management