Conventional wisdom tells us that scope creep is a bad thing. New project managers are always told to “lock down the scope”. But perhaps that’s not the best thing to do if you’re after a truly superb outcome.
I’m not saying you should allow unlimited scope creep, but there should definitely be some flexibility. Very often the project you’ve begun can be increased in scope ever so slightly, and yet deliver a much more effective result. That’s not the only benefit, though.
Think in terms of capacity building. Introducing scope changes to your team can be an effective way increase organisational capacity. The trick is to inspire a sense of passion and pride, two factors which ensure employee commitment to results. There are few things more motivational than performing something that is difficult, and performing it well.
Don’t go overboard, after all you need to limit yourself to a degree. Accept only additions to the scope that will result in a dramatic improvement to the outcome. Accepting every scope change, regardless of benefit is a sure way to end up with a failed project.
Next time your thinking about a project, don’t close it off. Open it up and explore the possibilities. You might just be surprised at the result.