Before starting the implementation of any project activities, the project team needs to know exactly what work has to be done. Therefore, the team needs to plan first to provide guidance and direction on how the scope will be managed throughout the project. At the very beginning of the process, the project team creates a scope management plan that documents how the project and product scope will be defined, validated, and controlled.

Reflect on a personal or work-related project you were involved in as a team member or a leader that encountered an unexpected scope change after the project was already implemented.

• What were the negative and positive impacts of the scope?
• In what ways did the change in scope affect the project's resources, costs, and timeline?
• What scope management processes were used to manage the changes?