Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What is a common consequence of unnecessary change or scope creep in projects?

1. Increased team satisfaction

2. Enhanced project collaboration

3. Going over budget and over schedule

4. Higher quality deliverables

The correct answer is: Going over budget and over schedule

Unnecessary change or scope creep in projects often leads to going over budget and over schedule due to several factors. When project requirements are frequently altered or expanded beyond the initial plan, it creates a situation where additional resources, time, and effort are needed to accommodate these changes. This can result in cost overruns as teams may need to allocate more budget to extend timelines or bring in additional personnel to meet the new demands. Furthermore, the lack of a clear and stable scope can disrupt project schedules. Teams may find themselves constantly adjusting their workflows, leading to inefficiencies and delays as they react to changes instead of following a structured plan. This can compound over time, resulting in significant deviations from the original project timeline. In contrast, higher quality deliverables, enhanced project collaboration, and increased team satisfaction are more likely outcomes of well-defined project scopes where changes are carefully managed and balanced with the project's goals and constraints. Such positive outcomes are generally realized when changes are necessary and communicated effectively rather than when they arise unexpectedly due to scope creep.