Scope creep

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This article is about project management. For the firearms use, see telescopic sight.

Scope creep (also called "requirement creep", and sometimes "kitchen sink syndrome") 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, or 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 initial identification of what is required to bring about the project objectives
weak project manager or executive sponsor

Scope creep is a risk in most projects. Most megaprojects fall victim to scope creep (see Megaprojects and risk). Scope creep often results in cost overrun.