I've always found that the main way to refocus a project and avoid scope creep is to circle back on the business needs. Why did you do this project in the first place? More often than not clients have forgotten or did not clarify sufficiently the initial business goals. Secondly, a core team many times is not the same as the one who did the initial scope and set the parameters. When in full flight, opinions and other ideas creep in, voila you've got scope creep. When this happens get everybody together, go back to the original mandate and refocus the complete team to align on the goals they're trying to achieve. Show how this compares to the initial scope of the project and then make the decision through a change control process

Simply this is because of less WBS ..always have more WBS, even it happens then check WBS discussion point and start fresh conversation

Scope creep can derail project timelines, but with proactive measures, you can keep things on track. Start by setting clear expectations from the outset, outlining specific deliverables, timelines, and boundaries in the initial project scope. Regularly communicate with clients about progress and any additional requests they make. When new requests arise, evaluate them carefully and consider implementing a change management process. This process should involve assessing the impact on time, budget, and resources, then seeking client approval before proceeding. Encourage collaboration but remind clients that changes can affect timelines. Document everything and use project management tools to monitor progress and adjust tasks as needed.

Having an agreed change control process is essential. Firstly a detailed and agreed user requirements spec is needed. Unless you know the scope, how can you recognise change? We train our project managers to issue change control notes even when there is no cost or timescale impact… it gets clients used to change being recorded so asking for more time or money becomes easier. With relatively small margins compared to project cost, any uncosted change has a significantly bigger impact on the provider’s margins compared to the buyer’s costs. Change that isn’t charged for can turn profit to loss. We also try to offer scope reduction to compensate for any scope increases. Finally remember the later the change the higher the likely impact.

To keep project timelines on track despite scope creep, define a clear project scope upfront, set expectations with clients, and implement a formal change management process for any new requests. Regular progress check-ins, prioritizing tasks, and using project management tools help maintain alignment and ensure transparency. Effective communication is key to preventing delays and staying on schedule.