Scope creep
Small additions that each seem reasonable and together blow the budget and the date.
Scope creep is rarely one big request. It is “while you are there”, one more role, one more language, one more report. Each is cheap alone; together they move the project up the cost distribution. Cross-cutting additions such as languages, offline mode or accessibility are the most expensive because they touch every screen.
Related terms
- MVP (minimum viable product): The smallest version of a product that tests whether people want it enough to use or pay.
- Time and materials (T&M): Paying for the hours actually worked; scope can change, cost and timeline move with it.
- Fixed price: A contract where scope and price are agreed up front and the vendor carries the risk.
