Analyzing Scope Creep

In project management, the scope is an outline of the work and resources that go into creating a promised product or service. Scope creep refers to unplanned changes or extensions to the project’s scope. Scope creep can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, controlled, or encounters unexpected circumstances. Scope creep is considered harmful or at least a nuisance, as it can result in budget overruns, increases in the project’s timeline or frayed nerves. Scope creep can cause the project team to drift away from its original purpose into unplanned additions and as the scope of a project grows, more tasks must be completed within the budget and schedule originally designed for a smaller set of tasks.

In this analysis I was a stakeholder on an home improvement project. The project involved increasing the size of my existing kitchen to make it into an open concept area. The project comprised reconfiguring an adjacent laundry area to increase the size the kitchen. Two adjacent walls had to be cut to create new entrances and an existing doorway sealed. Lighting and electrical fittings, painting, additional kitchen cupboards and appliance would follow.

The scope creep was caused by an unexpected circumstance. While cutting down the first wall the plumbing in the wall broke revealing that the plumbing to other side of the house was connected to the laundry’s plumbing. Before the project could progress any further the home’s plumbing had to be rerouted. This required the additional cost of plumbing fittings and labor. As a stakeholder in the project there was nothing else to be done but to find the necessary funds to complete the additional plumbing work.

Looking back on the experience, we should all have done more due diligence knowing that plumbing was involved. As the project manager I would have found and peruse the house’s existing plumbing diagrams before starting the project.

Resources:

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.