scope creep
The gradual, uncontrolled growth of a project's requirements beyond what was originally agreed.
Definition
Scope creep happens when small additions accumulate without adjusting budget or timeline. A single extra request seems harmless, but dozens together can double the effort. It is common in creative and digital work because ideas evolve. Prevention is simple in principle: write a clear scope, record every change, price additions through change orders, and review progress against the original plan. It is not always the client's fault; agencies sometimes overpromise or add extras without noting them. Track requests in a simple shared log with the date and decision, which turns an emotional argument into a factual discussion.
In a sentence
The extra landing pages were scope creep, so the agency issued a change order.
A weekly scope review kept creep in check.
