LinkedIn respects your privacy

LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.

Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. You can update your choices at any time in your settings.

Agree & Join LinkedIn

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Skip to main content
LinkedIn
  • Top Content
  • People
  • Learning
  • Jobs
  • Games
Join now Sign in
Last updated on Nov 2, 2024
  1. All
  2. Engineering
  3. Engineering Management

Your project timeline is at risk due to scope creep. How will you handle client expectations effectively?

When scope creep threatens your project timeline, effective client communication is key. Here's how to keep expectations in check:

- Clearly define project boundaries. Set specific limits on what will be delivered and when.

- Regularly update clients on progress. Keep them informed to avoid surprises and build trust.

- Be flexible but firm. If changes are needed, negotiate what can be adjusted without risking the timeline.

How do you handle scope creep in your projects? Share your strategies.

Engineering Management Engineering Management

Engineering Management

+ Follow
Last updated on Nov 2, 2024
  1. All
  2. Engineering
  3. Engineering Management

Your project timeline is at risk due to scope creep. How will you handle client expectations effectively?

When scope creep threatens your project timeline, effective client communication is key. Here's how to keep expectations in check:

- Clearly define project boundaries. Set specific limits on what will be delivered and when.

- Regularly update clients on progress. Keep them informed to avoid surprises and build trust.

- Be flexible but firm. If changes are needed, negotiate what can be adjusted without risking the timeline.

How do you handle scope creep in your projects? Share your strategies.

Add your perspective
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
11 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Rajesh Krishnamurthy

    Engineering Operations | Gen AI-Business Solutions | Product Development | Supply Chain-SQ & D | Advanced Manufacturing & Materials

    (edited)
    • Report contribution

    It is advisable to regularly reassess and fine-tune the project scope at each periodic milestone to ensure its achievability. This approach provides greater clarity, especially if the project was initially underestimated. Strong cross-functional collaboration and timely communication with stakeholders and the team are essential to prevent scope creep and keep the project on track.

    Like
    3
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Ashley Sole

    Tech Advisor, Coach & Mentor

    • Report contribution

    Default to transparency. It might be painful to have the difficult conversation, but being open and honest is always better in the long term. Trying to hide key information will only erode trust. I'd recommend articulating the challenges, providing the various options available, as well as the deciding and communicating the proposed path forward. It shows your client that you've considered the options, gives them the chance to interject, but also that you have a recommended path forward.

    Like
    3
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Irfan Hafeez

    Manager Performance & Reliability - Operations CCPP | GE 9HA l GE 9E l Turbine & Renewables l Power Plant Specialist l Contracts & Negotiations l PPA | Project Management | Quality Assurance l Troubleshooting l Planning

    • Report contribution

    1. Address scope changes as soon as they arise. 2. Explain how changes affect the timeline and budget 3. Refer to the original project scope and terms.

    Like
    2
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Aaron Etzkorn

    Pioneering the Clean Energy Movement || Leading Willdan's Charge to Sustainable Energy || Learn More About Sustainable Energy Solutions at Willdan.com || President @ Willdan Performance Engineering

    • Report contribution

    When scope creep hits, don’t dance around it—be direct. Tell the client, “To stay on track, we either stick to the plan or adjust the timeline.” Keep it about their goals and offer smart solutions, like phasing in new requests later. For example, say, “We can tackle this added feature after the core deliverables are locked in.” Clients don’t want excuses—they want leadership. Show you’re in control, keeping their priorities on point without letting the project spiral.

    Like
    2
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Ricardo Chang

    Strategic Business Manager│Business Development │Sales & Commercial │ B2B & B2C │ Disruptive Innovator

    • Report contribution

    ✅ Definir límites claros → Establecer una línea base de alcance desde el inicio y comunicar qué está dentro y fuera del proyecto. ✅ Control de cambios riguroso → Documentar y evaluar cada solicitud de modificación para evitar desviaciones innecesarias. ✅ Gestión proactiva de expectativas → Mantener a los clientes informados sobre avances y ajustes para evitar sorpresas. ✅ Priorización estratégica → Enfocar esfuerzos en entregables clave para cumplir con los plazos sin comprometer calidad. ✅ Monitoreo y ajuste continuo → Evaluar el impacto de los cambios y realizar correcciones rápidas para minimizar riesgos.

    Translated
    Like
    2
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Bruna Rodrigues

    Project Coordinator | Mechanical Engineer | Planning

    • Report contribution

    Gerencie as expectativas do cliente com comunicação transparente, explicando o impacto do aumento do escopo no cronograma e apresentando alternativas, como ajustes no prazo, priorização de entregas ou alocação de recursos adicionais, garantindo alinhamento e mitigação de riscos.

    Translated
    Like
    1
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Mg. Eng. Enrique Garcia Arbulu

    Project and Commercial Chief Director / Business Director

    • Report contribution

    Cuando el cronograma de un proyecto está en riesgo por la corrupción del alcance, es esencial manejar las expectativas del cliente con transparencia y proactividad. Primero, comunico de inmediato los cambios detectados, explicando con claridad el impacto en tiempos y recursos. Luego, propongo soluciones realistas, como priorizar entregables críticos o renegociar plazos, siempre enfocándome en mantener la calidad. Mantener una comunicación constante, documentar los acuerdos y mostrar compromiso con los objetivos del cliente refuerza la confianza. El enfoque debe ser colaborativo, buscando ajustes que beneficien a ambas partes sin comprometer la integridad del proyecto.

    Translated
    Like
    1
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Ricardo Q.

    PMP®PMI , CFPS®NFPA , CFM®IFMA :Fire Specialist ELV Solutions BMS ICT Head of Engineering ELV Manager Technical Manager Project Managment Sales & Marketing Operations Business Development Product Managment

    • Report contribution

    stay on track with all the projects activities and time frame and identify the project's issues and risk and provide solutions .

    Like
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Paula Juliana Correia

    Projects and Operations Manager | Chemical and Process Engineering | Lean Six Sigma | Green Belt | Operational Excellence | Team and KPI management | Cost reduction | Sustentability and Sanitation | ISO Standards

    • Report contribution

    O mais importante é realinhar as expectativas. Para isso, um levantamento das novas demandas e os recursos disponíveis é crucial para que seja possível alinhar com o cliente as possíveis soluções. Estas podem ser definir conjuntamente a pertinência das novas demandas, adequar os prazos das entregas frente as atividades alinhadas ou aumentar custos envolvidos para manter os prazos (caso haja disponibilidade de recursos para que isso seja feito). No fim, não há como abrir mão da qualidade, então o alinhamento precisa ser feito em prol de certificar que realmente é necessário o escopo adicional e arcar com as consequências desta nova empreitada, seja com custos ou tempo.

    Translated
    Like
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Darren Nicholl

    Human Amplifier | Helping managers become high-impact engineering leaders since 2010 | Follow for the mistakes I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learnt and the occasional controversial opinion

    • Report contribution

    Transparent communication is key to managing stakeholder expectations. Arrange a time to review the original scope and timeline. Highlight work completed so far and discuss how the new requests impact the committed delivery date. Next, present the options: 1. Extend the timeline 2. Increase the team size (and budget) 3. Prioritise features and cut less critical ones Involve the stakeholder in decision-making, explaining the downsides of each option, to create a shared responsibility. By doing this and admitting any mistakes, you'll build trust. Next time, raise the issues earlier. Remember: It's easier to manage expectations early than to disappoint later.

    Like
View more answers
Engineering Management Engineering Management

Engineering Management

+ Follow

Rate this article

We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?
It’s great It’s not so great

Thanks for your feedback

Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.

Tell us more

Report this article

More articles on Engineering Management

No more previous content
  • Your team is divided on risk tolerance for innovation. How will you navigate conflicting perspectives?

  • Your engineering team is maxed out with tasks. How do you handle new urgent priorities?

    20 contributions

  • How do you handle competing project demands while leading a cross-functional engineering team?

  • Your team member keeps missing project deadlines. How can you get them back on track?

    33 contributions

  • You need to keep stakeholders updated on project progress. How do you avoid drowning them in details?

  • You're overseeing a major engineering project. How will you manage stakeholder expectations effectively?

    28 contributions

  • Balancing precision and speed in your team dynamics. Can you find the sweet spot for optimal performance?

No more next content
See all

More relevant reading

  • Communication
    How do you manage client expectations when they request additional features close to the project deadline?
  • Project Management
    How can you negotiate a scope creep with a sponsor who has a different vision for the project?
  • Problem Solving
    What do you do if your clients' expectations are unrealistic and the deadline is approaching?
  • Small Business
    What is the best way to manage a client's unrealistic deadline?

Explore Other Skills

  • Programming
  • Web Development
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Machine Learning
  • Software Development
  • Data Engineering
  • Data Analytics
  • Data Science
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Cloud Computing

Are you sure you want to delete your contribution?

Are you sure you want to delete your reply?

  • LinkedIn © 2025
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Brand Policy
  • Guest Controls
  • Community Guidelines
Like
3
11 Contributions