Scope creep

Revision as of 10:04, 22 September 2017

Abstract

The following article describes the project management phenomenon scope creep. The definitions of project scope and product scope as well as scope creep are discussed. Scope creep can happen both in proportion to project and product scope. Product scope creep can happen both naturally and when a stakeholder demands a new feature of the product. Project scope creep can happen when a project team is taken a new working direction with a project - both intentionally and unintentionally. Natural changes will happen in project all the time, and a project rarely delivers exactly what was asked for on day 1 of the project. The key to avoid scope creep is to handle these changes carefully, so this article also discusses tools to avoid scope creep. Suggestions on how to handle scope creep is also given, if this is unavoidable.

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What is scope?

What is scope creep?

How to avoid scope creep

How to handle scope creep

Is scope creep always bad?

Conclusion

References

1. ↑ Monnappa, A. (2017) Project Scope Management: What It is and Why It’s Important. SimpliLearn
2. ↑ Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management, Fourth Edition. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited
3. ↑ Clark, T. (2014) How to Manage Scope Creep - and Even Prevent It From Happening. The LiquidPlanner Blog
4. ↑ Danish Standards Foundation. (2012) ISO 21500 Guidance on Project Management, First Edition. Charlottenlund, Denmark: Dansk Standard
5. ↑ Duke, P. Scope Creep, the Killer of Projects. Entrepreneur
6. ↑ Keifer, S. C. (1996) Scope creep … not necessarily a bad thing. PM Network, 10(5), 33-35

Annotated Bibliography

Wiki article: Scoping. http://apppm.man.dtu.dk/index.php/Scoping (2017)

Overview of the concept of scoping with outline of the big idea, application and limitations. This reference is useful prior to reading the article about scope creep.

Bellenger, Lynn G. (2003) Avoiding Scope Creep Protects the Bottom Line, Ashrea Journal, Volume 45, Issue 10, pp. 58. Amer. Soc. Heating, Ref. Air-Conditioning Eng. Inc.

Article addressing the consequences about scope creep as an effect of a badly written scope document. Addresses the financial consequences of scope creep and discusses the legal matter

Parisi, M. (2011) Managing Scope Creep with Design Patterns in Formal Specifications, Vol. 5 No. 1. International Journal of Software Engineering and Its Applications

Addresses scope creep from the software engineering point of view. The article discusses several design patterns in the software coding, that is design to manage the changes in scope during the project period. This application of code design patters can help mitigate these late changes.

FreshBooksBlog. (2015) 5 Scripts You Can Use to Handle Project Scope Creep

An article what gives an overview of how to outsmart scope creep. Suggestions of how to handle scope creep is given along with actual scrips that can be useful when addressing your client in uncomfortable situations. This includes conversations about declining new features or services, additions to the budget or changing the project requirements.