What is meant by "scope creep" in project management?

In project management, "scope creep" refers to the phenomenon where the scope of a project expands beyond its original objectives and boundaries without corresponding adjustments to time, budget, and resources. This typically occurs when new features, requirements, or tasks are added incrementally without proper evaluation, approval, or documentation.

The essence of scope creep is that these changes often occur gradually and subtly, leading to an increase in workload, resource expenditure, and complexity that can threaten the project's successful completion. It can arise from various sources, such as stakeholder requests, miscommunications, or an evolving understanding of project needs. The implications of scope creep include potential delays, budget overruns, and compromised quality, making it critical for project managers to have robust change management processes in place to handle any alterations to the initial scope effectively.

The focus on uncontrolled changes underscores the need for maintaining a clear and agreed-upon project scope document and engaging in thorough stakeholder communication to manage expectations and alterations appropriately.