How do you prevent and handle scope creep?
What the interviewer wants to hear
- Clear, agreed scope and acceptance criteria at the start
- Formal change control process
- Assess impact on time, cost, quality and risk
- Decision by the right authority, then update plans
Model answer
Prevention starts with a clear scope statement, a work breakdown structure and acceptance criteria that the sponsor and key stakeholders sign off. I also agree on a change control process at the start, so everyone knows how changes are handled. When someone asks for something new, I log it as a change request. With the team I assess its impact on schedule, cost, quality and risk. Then the right person, usually the sponsor or a change board, decides whether to approve it, reject it or swap it for something else of similar size. If approved, I update the baseline plan and inform everyone. This does not mean refusing all changes; projects often need them. It just means every change is visible and decided consciously.
Can you answer it under time pressure?
Take a timed medium round and get scored on every answer.
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