PROJ 6002: Discussion on Scope Changes and Project Schedule Impact

This discussion post provides a student's response to a case study on a vehicle maintenance facility project (PROJ 6002), addressing the impact of scope changes on project schedules and costs. The student acknowledges that changes in scope can affect project timelines and, in larger projects, costs, even if not always directly proportional. The student's response analyzes the given case study, highlighting how changes to the project scope (e.g., the number of roll-up doors) can impact the project schedule. The post references project management literature, including Heagney (2016) and Nicholas & Steyn (2017), and discusses factors such as team experience, project complexity, and task dependencies that influence project schedules. The post concludes with the student's agreement that scope change primarily impacts the project schedule.

Reply Post
Yes, I completely agree with you comment that it may not be necessary that scope
affects the time and cost of the project every time, however, there is no denying the fact that
it is not completely impossible. Change in scope or scope creep mostly have a negative
impact on schedule management as change in scope mostly impact the pre developed project
(Heagney, 2016). If the current situation of the case study provided is analysed, it is observed
that certain parts of the project is already completed and any changes in the project scope will
indicate a change in the entire schedule of the project. The change in the schedule for the
particular project will further affect the cost of the project as the plan for the project is needed
to be changed if the sponsor changes his mind to include three roll up doors instead of four.
Therefore, I will slightly different point of view from you. Change of scope will
definitely indicate change in the schedule plan however, small that change might me.
Therefore, scope change is majority of the times affects the schedule of a project. In larger
projects, the effect might extend to the cost of the project.
I have a similar point of view regarding the factors you have listed that can impact the
project schedule. Team experience, complexity of the project and task dependencies
definitely impacts the schedule plan (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). Also, if a particular project is
required to be executed in a specific time the scheduling is to be done in a more accurate
manner.

References
Heagney, J. (2016). Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Nicholas, J. M., & Steyn, H. (2017). Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Taylor & Francis.