Scope Creep - Definition
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at December 11th, 2020
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What is Scope Creep?
Scope creep, also known as feature creep and requirement creep, describes unexpected changes and uncontrolled developments that occur in a project's scope. More specifically, the requirements for carrying out a particular project grow or are expended. Scope creep is generally considered harmful because it results in changes in a project which are continuous and difficult to control.
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A Little More on What is Scope Creep
Scope creep can occur due to any of the following factors:
- An imprecise initial project scope
- Project stakeholders change the requirements of a project.
- Inexperienced or unskillful project manager
- Internal communication disagreements between the key stakeholders in a project.
- Poor project planning and change control
- Failure to identify project requirements and objectives
- Weak project sponsors
- Non-versatility of project amongst other factors.
Academic Research on Scope Creep
- Controlling design-phase scope creep, Kuprenas, J. A., & Nasr, E. B. (2003). AACE International Transactions, CS11.
- Impact of Scope Creep on Software Project Quality., Thakurta, R. (2013). Vilakshan: The XIMB Journal of Management, 10(1).
- Influence of Scope Creep on Project Success: AComparative Study between Conventional ApproachVerses Agile Approach, Suma, V., & LakshmiMadhuri, K. (2013). In IEEE International Conference on Advanced research in Engineering and Technology (ICARET).
- Direct cost of scope creep in governmental construction projects in Qatar, Hussain, O. A. (2012). Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 12(14).
- Beware the scope creep: Establishing service levels, Sadler, I. (2002). International Tax Review, (5), 22.
- Managing scope creep with design patterns in formal specifications, Parisi, M. (2011). Int J Softw Eng Appl, 5(1), 63-72.
- Effect of Scope Creep in Software Projects a [euro]" Its Bearing on Critical Success Factors, Madhuri, K. L., Rao, J. J., & Suma, V. (2014). International Journal of Computer Applications, 106(2).
- Influence of domain and technology upon scope creep in software projects, Madhuri, K. L., & Suma, V. (2014, October). In Advances in Electronics, Computers and Communications (ICAECC), 2014 International Conference on(pp. 1-6). IEEE.
- Software project management: The relationship among effort, change, and time, or a first attempt at preventing scope creep, Barry, E., Mukhopadhyay, T., & Slaughter, S. A. (1997).
- Scope creep in software development, Prabhakar, G. P., & Quah, J. (2008). Journal of Social Management, 6, 45-59.
- Avoiding scope creep protects the bottom line, Bellenger, L. G. (2003). ASHRAE Journal, 45(10), 58.