Which situation exemplifies scope creep in a project?

Scope creep refers to the gradual expansion of project requirements and deliverables beyond the original agreement during the project lifecycle. This often occurs without corresponding changes to resources, time, or budget, leading to potential complications for project management.

The situation that exemplifies scope creep is when there is an increase in project requirements beyond the initial agreement. This implies that stakeholders are requesting additional features or tasks that were not part of the original project scope, which can result in delays, increased costs, and resource strain if not managed carefully. As the project evolves, uncontrolled modifications can lead to a project moving away from its initial objectives and goals.

In contrast, the addition of new tasks without impact on budget or time does not constitute scope creep, as it suggests that the project can absorb these changes without strain. Changes to the original budget without additional approvals also do not illustrate scope creep directly; rather, it deals with financial management issues. Lastly, the reduction of project features to save costs represents a contraction of scope, which is the opposite of what scope creep entails. Understanding these distinctions helps in effective project management and maintaining control over project scopes.