skip to content rich footer

stevenclark.com.au

subscibe to the StevenClark.com.au rss feed

Scope Creep: Just an Extra Widget, Please?

How many times have you sat in a meeting and wondered why they are still adding extra features even though the project is running late and over budget? A change here and a tweak there. A little restructuring of the information architecture. Some design decisions that require serious backend attention by the team.

Similarly, we’ve probably all had the client who asks for that little extra widget, a page they hadn’t considered or something that came to mind on the trip over which might take only an hour (but possibly most of a day). And you concede because you’re a nice person, and you do it several times. The budget goes south and your children starve in the streets.

My suggestion is that once you make an agreement on a date, a deliverable and a payment you enforce it rigidly. Make that clear to the client or stakeholder from the very beginning. Make it clear you’ll take new features on board, but that new features can only be worked on after the agreed contract work ends and payment is received.  If the bar keeps moving you’ll never bring their work in on time and under budget.

You may have noticed the moment you show an interface to the client everyone has an opinion and a list of things that would be ‘great to have’ and ‘must be removed’. My point – get signoff. Get paid. Focus on getting things done.

Comments are closed.

Social Networking

Keep an eye out for me on Twitter

About the Author

Steven Clark Steven Clark - the stand up guy on this site

My name is Steven Clark (aka nortypig) and my passions are business, web development, photography and writing. I have an MBA (Specialisation) and a Bachelor of Computing from the University of Tasmania. Currently completing a Grad Dip in Journalism, Media & Communications.

Photography

My photography is at Steven Clark Studio and my regular photo blog presents an ongoing stream of latest images at Walk a Mile in my Shoes and I'm working on a long-term photography project called the King Island Project.

Recently Reviewed Books

Site Supporters

Hosted by Brett Drinkwater at Tashosting who is always there at the other end of my every inconvenient question and technical crisis. Brett's local community support for us over the last five years is greatly appreciated.

skip to top of page

Currently Reading

Ansel Adams: The Camera

As the first of three parts of Ansel Adams Photography Series, Ansel Adams: The Camera begins by discussing the idea of visualisation in relation to photography. Ansel Adams is a master of his craft; this series has sat on my backburner for some time. Book 2 in this series is The Negative and it's followed up by The Print. In them Ansel outlines his philosophy of photography rather than trying to lay down a set of rules. This first instalment is a technical book that explains the good old fashion film camera.