Episode 208 – Taming Scope Creep: How to Keep Your Project on Track

The podcast for project managers by project managers. Is Scope Creep derailing your project? A lack of control can lead to projects spiraling out of scope. Join us as Shannon Keenan shares strategies to keep your team focused, avoid delays, and deliver successful outcomes. Learn how to manage scope effectively and prevent projects from spiraling out of control. Table of Contents 03:11 … Artemis Factor04:45 … What is Scope Creep?07:33 … Change Request vs. Scope Creep10:14 … The Problem with Scope Creep12:27 … Scope Change Requests13:38 … Is All Scope Creep Bad?17:22 … Signs of Scope Creep Occurring19:23 … Project Health Checks22:25 … The Planning Phase25:08 … Importance of Documentation26:11 … Ren Love ‘Projects of the Past’28:37 … Push Back on Scope Creep30:43 … Be the Trust Agent32:45 … Finding the Balance: Innovation vs. Scope36:43 … Useful Tools for Managing Scope Creep40:37 … Keeping a Decision Log42:49 … Connect with Shannon43:49 … Closing SHANNON KEENAN: What we do to avoid those pitfalls are project health checks.  We’ll do monthly health checks.  It depends on how big the project is or how long it’s going to run.  And you really want to kind of just do a quick check, it’s good as a PM you’re looking forward, but just kind of take a quick glance back; right?  What was your original charter?  Or what was your objective?  What was your timeline?  What were the benefits?  Are these additional requirements causing any kind of pain to the project or negatively impacting any of those original requirements, objectives that were set up at the beginning of the project? WENDY GROUNDS:  Welcome to Manage This, the podcast by project managers for project managers.  I’m Wendy Grounds, and in the studio with me is Bill Yates.  We want to take a moment to say thank you to our listeners who reach out to us.  If you leave comments on our website or on social media, we love hearing from you.  We appreciate your positive ratings on Apple podcasts or whichever podcast listening app you use.  Please do get in touch, leave us a comment at Velociteach.com or on social media, and let us know what you like to hear more of, as well.  We like to make our episodes something that you’d want to hear more about.  So, if you have some suggestions of project managers who are doing amazing projects or topics that would be very helpful to you in your career, please let us know. BILL YATES:  Got a team needing top-notch training?  Velociteach specializes in private group training, both on-site and virtual.  Share your training goals with us, and we’ll craft the perfect plan for your team.  Whether it’s exam prep, maintaining certification, or mastering the latest project management best practices, our live classes and expert instructors will fast-track your organization to success.  Explore our private group training offerings at Velociteach.com today. WENDY GROUNDS:  Today we’re exploring the crucial topic of scope creep... BILL YATES:  Scope creep. WENDY GROUNDS:  ...in project management.  It can be that silent killer that’ll derail even the most well-planned projects.  We’re joined by Shannon Keenan.  She is the co-founder and partner at Artemis Factor, and she brings over 25 years of project management expertise in the pharmaceutical industry.  Shannon has expertly guided both large and small teams through comprehensive strategies across the entire pharma value chain, from R&D and clinical trials to regulatory affairs and commercial operations.  Her extensive experience makes her the perfect guest to shed light on this pervasive issue. BILL YATES:  And we had students and listeners reach out to us, and they had specific questions about scope creep.  I can’t wait to put those in front of Shannon. WENDY GROUNDS:  Yes.  So, let’s get started.  Hi, Shannon.  Welcome to Manage This.  Thank you so much for being our guest. SHANNON KEENAN:  Thank you so much for having me.  I’m excited to be here and excited to talk a lit...