Understanding scope issues

Question 1

What is scope creep?

Answer 1

Scope creep is the uncontrolled expansion of a project’s scope without adjustments in time, cost, and resources.

Question 2

Why does scope creep occur?

Answer 2

It often occurs because stakeholders request additional features or changes, believing that the customer is always right.

Question 3

What are the potential impacts of scope creep on a project?

Answer 3

Scope creep can lead to increased costs, extended timelines, and resource strain.

Question 4

What should a project manager do when a change is proposed?

Answer 4

The project manager should analyze the impact of the change on time, cost, and resources.

Question 5

What is the difference between a refinement and an add-on?

Key question for scope creep

Answer 5

A refinement is a necessary improvement based on new understanding, while an add-on is an extra feature that can lead to cost overruns.

Question 6

What is gold plating in project management?

Answer 6

Gold plating is the process of adding extra features that were not included in the original scope, often leading to increased costs and delays.

Question 7

Why is gold plating considered bad practice?

Answer 7

It can complicate the project, introduce new risks, and lead to maintenance issues.

Question 8

How should a project manager handle a proposed change that involves gold plating?

Answer 8

The project manager should assess the value of the change and communicate the potential costs and delays to stakeholders.

Question 9

What is the role of the change control board?

Answer 9

The change control board reviews proposed changes and decides whether to approve them.

Question 10

What is the relationship between scope changes and project risks?

Answer 10

Changes can introduce new risks that need to be assessed and managed.