---
title: "Scope creep"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Delivering results"
lesson: 29 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/scope-creep
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Scope creep

Lesson 29 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Delivering results". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Identify signs of scope creep in a project scenario and distinguish scope creep from legitimate change requests
- Evaluate a change request by assessing its impact on scope, schedule, budget, and quality
- Decide whether to approve, reject, or defer a change request with documented reasoning

## Teaching notes
Sam has requested adding a mobile app feature after seeing the pilot's early results. Ask the student to fill in the form, make an approve/reject/defer call, and explicitly name who this decision belongs to — and why it is Sam's call (as sponsor) and not the PM's alone.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 29 complete: Scope creep."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Presenting project results to stakeholders" (lesson 30 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/presenting-project-results-to-stakeholders.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Budget vs. actual: spotting cost problems early
Next lesson: Presenting project results to stakeholders