Principles of A.D.D.

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04. Scope Creep 🧟 ​

The longer between releases, the more scope-creep. ​

Scope creep, the gradual expansion of project requirements beyond the original goals, is a common challenge in software development. The Scope-Creep Principle highlights that extended intervals between releases often lead to an increase in scope creep. This is because, over time, additional features, changes, and requests tend to accumulate, pushing the project beyond its initial scope.

Key aspects of the Scope-Creep Principle include:

  • Regular Releases: Frequent releases help to manage and control scope creep by breaking down the project into smaller, manageable segments. Each release should focus on delivering a specific set of features or improvements, making it easier to prioritize and handle changes.
  • Manage Expectations: With longer development cycles, stakeholders may develop new expectations and request additional features. Regular releases help to set and manage these expectations, ensuring that new requests are addressed systematically and transparently.
  • Prioritize Features: To combat scope creep, prioritize features and changes based on their value and impact. Focus on delivering essential functionality in each release and defer less critical enhancements to future iterations.
  • Clear Requirements: At the beginning of each release cycle, establish clear, agreed-upon requirements and objectives. This clarity helps to prevent unnecessary changes and keeps the project aligned with its goals.
  • Monitor Changes: Continuously monitor and evaluate any new requests or changes to assess their impact on the project’s scope and timeline. Implement a formal change management process to evaluate, approve, and integrate new requirements.
  • Feedback Loops: Regular releases provide opportunities for early feedback from users and stakeholders. This feedback can help to identify and address scope creep issues early, ensuring that the project remains on track.

By following the Scope-Creep Principle, development teams can maintain better control over project scope, deliver value more consistently, and avoid the pitfalls of expanding requirements that can lead to delays and increased complexity.