Scope Creep, a formal definition

Published on Jun 2, 2009

If you ever interview a project manager, ask them to define Scope Creep. I've compiled a formal definition to reference and compare, which is actually now hanging on my office wall.

If they fail to provide either definition, I would recommend that you continue your search...

Scope Creep

- noun

Opportunity to secure additional revenue and improve the quality and overall outcome of a development project
Unintentional interjection of an outside party causing temporary internal aggravation, characterized by lack of education for due process

Synonyms: focus creep, requirement creep, feature creep, function creep, kitchen sink syndrome

Related Forms: creep-ing-ly, adverb

...Patience is a virtue learned through the course and practice of life.

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michael Parler

Every project needs a plan: construction, civil engineering, even website development ...especially website development. Without a solid foundation to support the end vision, ideas only exist in the mind. I take the opportunity to help guide our clients through their own ideas, putting thought to paper, breathing life into invention. With a focus on simplicity, practicality, and metrics-driven, heuristic design, I work directly with our clients every step of the way. From preliminary interviews exploring your company’s goals, to transposing goals into tangible concepts and Blueprints, to overseeing regularly-scheduled checkpoints during assembly, to beta demos, to final deployment, to ongoing evaluation of your site’s performance, I'm here to ensure that your plans manifest online into a realistic return on your investment.