PMI Risk Management Professional Practice Exam

What tool is best suited for detecting scope creep in a project?

1. Validating scope

2. Technical performance measurement

3. Risk audits

4. Reserve analysis

The correct answer is: Technical performance measurement

The most effective tool for detecting scope creep in a project is validating scope. This process involves reviewing what has been completed against the project scope to ensure that all deliverables meet the agreed requirements and are aligned with stakeholder expectations. When validating scope, project managers can identify any unauthorized changes or additional requirements that have been implemented after the project baseline was set. This function is crucial as it helps to recognize scope creep early, enabling project leaders to take necessary actions to control or reverse unauthorized changes. While technical performance measurement, risk audits, and reserve analysis have their own specific roles in project management, they do not serve the primary purpose of directly identifying scope creep. Technical performance measurement focuses on assessing the actual project outputs against the planned performance metrics, which can highlight performance issues but not specifically address changes in scope. Risk audits analyze potential risks and the effectiveness of risk responses, which is also helpful but not directly tied to scope changes. Reserve analysis deals with the allocation and management of contingency reserves for potential risks rather than the scope itself. Thus, validating scope stands out as the most relevant tool for detecting and managing scope creep in a project.