Avoiding Scope Creep and Embracing Your Core Competency

Co-Authored by: Dirk Vander Noot and Jeffrey Brown

Introduction to Scope Creep

Startling statistics from Strategy+Business.com reveal that 91.5% of projects exceed their budgets, timelines, or both. Moreover, it's rare—less than 1% of projects are completed within the original time and budget while delivering the expected results.

The Challenge of Scope Creep

In project management, deviating from your core competency—especially before fulfilling initial commitments—is known as "scope creep." This issue is a major cause of project derailment, particularly in businesses committed to quality. Scope creep occurs when the project's boundaries expand before achieving the initially defined objectives. This results in increased resource allocation that was not accounted for which can significantly hinder a project's progress and success. An "idea parking lot" allows the team to set aside new ideas that might cause scope creep, while another way is to keep your core competency top of mind. 

Harnessing Your Core Genius: Insights from Jen Loving

Jen Loving, a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of growing businesses from startup to seven-figure success stories shares key advice to fight scope creep and grow your business. Jen’s advice to reach  the significant $100k milestone is simple yet profound: "Focus on your core genius." Jen defines core genius as the unique value you bring. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing your core genius and effectively communicating it to others to turn it into profitability.

The Power of Concentration and Communication

Focusing on your core genius differentiates you from competitors and enhances your efficiency in achieving objectives and completing projects. With a more precise vision of the future, the steps to accomplish it will become clearer as well. This makes prioritizing your core genius in your strategy one of the most effective ways to prevent scope creep in your business.

To ensure a positive project outcome, define clear requirements and success criteria to guide your project. By making sure your team understands the project deliverables and has the right tools, you create an environment optimized for efficiency. New ideas should be evaluated against these criteria; if they don't align, they should be deferred to keep the focus on your current goals. Although every business aims to maintain this focus, it is easy to lose sight of our primary goals and wander into unknown territory.

Case Study: Cloud Imperium and Scope Creep

For a vivid illustration of scope creep's consequences, consider the development journey of Star Citizen by Cloud Imperium Games. This crowdfunded project, which began in 2012, is the second-largest campaign ever, raising over $601 million USD. As of 2023, the game still remains in a testing phase, far from its planned official release. Many of its initial promises remain unfulfilled—resulting in considerable disappointment among its backers. By standard project management measures, Star Citizen's prolonged development is deemed a failure due to missed deadlines, budget overruns, and unmet promises to their backers.

Conclusion

If you've struggled with projects exceeding time and budget constraints, you are certainly not alone. Businesses of all sizes face the challenges of scope creep, leading to extended project durations and increased expenses. To navigate these challenges, focus on your core genius, employ disciplined leadership, and maintain clear project directions to effectively manage scope creep. By setting clear expectations and providing necessary resources, you set the stage for ongoing project success and profitability.

Looking Ahead

Coming up next month, we'll dive into the inspiring journey of a successful C-suite leader who has mastered the art of thriving in a high-stress, rapidly changing environment. Discover their unique mindset and strategies for achieving success while maintaining health and well-being.