What potential effect does scope creep have on a project?

Scope creep refers to the gradual expansion of a project's objectives, requirements, or deliverables, typically without appropriate adjustments to resources, timelines, or budgets. When scope creep occurs, it can significantly influence project management.

The correct answer highlights how scope creep typically leads to an increase in both duration and costs. As new elements or tasks are added to the initial project plan, additional time may be required to complete the work and ensure that all new requirements are met. This extended timeline often necessitates more resources, whether they be personnel, materials, or financial resources, thus driving up overall costs.

Moreover, with each addition to the project scope, project managers may face challenges in maintaining prior commitments, causing potential delays and overruns that were not anticipated during the project planning phase. It's essential for project managers to recognize and control scope creep to keep projects within their original framework to prevent such adverse effects.

In contrast, options suggesting reduced resource availability, shortened project timelines, or strengthened stakeholder engagement do not accurately capture the implications of scope creep. Instead, they misrepresent the relationship between an expanding project scope and its necessary pacing and funding.