requirements creep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "requirements creep" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing project management or software development to describe the gradual expansion of project requirements beyond the original scope. For example: "The project faced significant delays due to requirements creep, as new features were continuously added." Alternative expressions include "scope creep" and "feature creep."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

To prevent the kinds of cost overruns and schedule delays that have hobbled other programs, Pentagon officials have said they are putting their crack acquisitions team on the program and will protect against the kinds of "requirements creep" that sent other programs into a death spiral.

The Washington Post

Terms used in reference to excessive software development practices include over-requirement, over-specification, over-design, gold-plating, bells-and-whistles, feature creep, scope creep, requirements creep, featuritis, scope overload and over-scoping.

International Journal of Project Management

Our existing Capstone senior engineering design course followed the defense acquisition process; the focus of defense acquisition is to "nail down requirements" early and manage customer expectations to "avoid requirements creep".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Further optimization of these alloys, however, is still required to tailor their microstructures for the mutually exclusive requirements of oxidation resistance, creep resistance and damage tolerance.

Intermetallics

Single-crystalline superalloys meet the requirements for creep strength and thermo-mechanical fatigue resistance.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

FeCo 2V alloys offer the highest saturation magnetization but do not meet the yield strength and creep resistance requirements.

Intermetallics

The fact that Gamma titanium aluminides (γ-TiAl) offer strong potential for replacing conventional titanium and nickel-base alloys in future gas turbine engine designs has resulted in the requirement to accurately describe the creep behaviour of these complex alloys.

Intermetallics

Luxury flats and malls might be surplus to those requirements, but how could commercialism not creep in when the potential market is so huge?

The Guardian - Opinion

And "mission creep"—escalating costs as scientific requirements for missions expand during development—has also taken its toll.

Science Magazine

We have established in the preceding section that besides other important alloy characteristics, the high-temperature creep resistance is the primary requirement in superalloys for hotter GT engines.

International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

We stress that use case development should not be skipped, as use cases provide tangible, stable indicators for project requirements and thus help avoid drift and scope creep.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To prevent "requirements creep", establish clear and well-defined project requirements from the outset, and implement a rigorous change management process.

Common error

Avoid starting a project without properly documenting initial "requirements" because this makes it difficult to identify and manage "creep" effectively later on.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "requirements creep" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a phenomenon in project management where project requirements expand beyond the initially defined scope. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to describe a specific problem.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "requirements creep" is a noun phrase that describes the uncontrolled expansion of project requirements. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and used in professional contexts, particularly in project management and software development. While the frequency of the phrase is rare, it's important to understand its meaning and implications. To mitigate "requirements creep", establish clear project requirements upfront and implement a robust change management process. Related terms include "scope creep" and "feature bloat".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scope creep

A very similar term, almost interchangeable with "requirements creep".

feature creep

Focuses specifically on the addition of new features over time.

scope expansion

Focuses on the enlargement of the project's boundaries.

feature bloat

Emphasizes the excessive addition of features.

project scope increase

Directly indicates a growth in the project's defined boundaries.

uncontrolled expansion

Highlights the lack of management in the growth of requirements.

scope escalation

Implies a gradual and often problematic increase in the project's scope.

goalpost shifting

Illustrates the idea of project targets being moved further away.

mission creep

Refers to the gradual broadening of a mission or project beyond its original objectives.

creeping featurism

Describes the slow and insidious addition of unnecessary features.

FAQs

How does "requirements creep" affect project timelines?

"Requirements creep" often leads to project delays as new, unplanned tasks and features are added, extending the original timeline and potentially disrupting other project schedules.

What's the difference between "requirements creep" and "scope creep"?

While very similar, "requirements creep" focuses specifically on the expansion of requirements, whereas "scope creep" is a broader term that encompasses any uncontrolled changes or growth to the project's scope.

How can project managers minimize "requirements creep"?

Project managers can minimize "requirements creep" by establishing a clear change management process, regularly communicating with stakeholders, and rigorously assessing the impact of any proposed changes on the project's timeline and budget.

What are some alternative phrases for "requirements creep"?

Alternatives include "scope expansion", "feature bloat", and "scope escalation", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of uncontrolled project growth.