Scope
Scope Creep vs Gold Plating
Difference between Scope Creep and Gold Plating
Scope Creep
Extra scope is added to the project without considering the impact of change on time, cost, quality, risks etc.
Gold Plating
The team provides extras over and above the scope baseline. Scope Baseline remains "unchanged".
Difference between Scope Creep and Gold Plating
The key differences between Scope Creep and Gold Plating are:
- With Scope Creep, the scope baseline is changed, but with Gold Plating, the scope baseline remains the same.
- Scope Creep usually results from the customer or other stakeholders requesting for a scope expansion, but in case of Gold Plating, project team voluntarily provides extras without the customer requesting for them.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Scope Creep | Gold Plating |
|---|---|---|
| :-- | :-- | :-- |
| Who introduces it | Usually customer or stakeholders | Usually project team |
| What changes | Scope baseline expands | Delivered work exceeds the approved scope |
| Formal approval | Missing or bypassed | Missing entirely |
| Main risk | Time, cost, and resource impact is ignored | Extra features add waste, risk, and possible defects |
| PMP/CAPM exam mindset | Route changes through change control | Deliver only what was approved |
Exam Trap to Watch For
On PMP and CAPM questions, both ideas are treated as bad practices, but the reason is slightly different.
- If the question says the customer or sponsor asks for more work without adjusting baselines, think scope creep.
- If the question says the team adds extra functionality on its own to impress the customer, think gold plating.
- If the question asks what the project manager should do, the safe exam answer is to protect the approved scope and use formal change control rather than accept uncontrolled additions.
Both are Bad!
Both Scope Creep and Gold Plating are bad for the project and should be avoided.
Further Reading
Read the posts on Gold Plating and Scope Creep for a detailed explanation of these concepts.