Scope Creep
Definition
Scope Creep refers to the gradual, uncontrolled expansion of a project's scope beyond its originally agreed boundaries, typically without a corresponding adjustment to the budget, timeline, or resources. In creative projects, scope creep often occurs when clients request additional deliverables, revisions, or changes that were not included in the original brief. Managing scope creep requires clear project documentation, a well-defined change management process, and the willingness to have difficult conversations with clients about the impact of changes.
Contextual Usage
The account manager flags a scope creep issue to the project manager: "The client has just asked us to add a 60-second version of the ad to the deliverables. That wasn't in the original brief, and it will require an additional day of editing and sound mixing. I'm going to send them a change order for the additional cost and time before we proceed."
About this section
Creative Operations (or "Creative Ops") is the discipline of designing, managing, and optimising the systems, processes, and workflows that enable creative teams to produce high-quality work efficient...
View all 32 terms