The Effect of Scope Creeping on the Success of Projects: A Case Study of Water for Life Project

The rationale for this research was to evaluate the effect of scope creeping on project success and was carried out in water for life project as case study with the following objectives; To examine the effects of undefined project requirements on success of project in water for life project, to assess the effect of failure to involve stakeholders on the success of project in water for life project and to analyze the influence of failure to control budget on success of project in water for life project. The research reviewed literature linked to the effect of scope creeping on project success and established that scope creeping negatively affects project success. The critical review of present literature showing the research gap was done. The research design used was descriptive research based both on qualitative and quantitative data as the study population was 110 employees of water for life project and the sample size was 86 respondents chosen using solven�s formula. Sampling techniques was simple random sampling techniques as data collection tools were questionnaires and interviews for primary data while for secondary data the researcher used documentary review. For validity and reliability, the researcher carried out pretesting where by 11 respondents were given questionnaires to fill so as to verify authenticity while data presentation was done using tables and for analysis and interpretation statistical packages for social sciences was used. The researcher found out that failure to define the resources needed for project operations may lead to increase or extension of the stipulated time hence affecting project success and that undefined resources affect project success by increasing the time stipulated for the project activities to be accomplished, unclear resources affect project success due to the fact that project operations cannot be well planned without sufficient resources and that poor planning affects project success due to poor coordination of activities and failure to plan for project requirements. The researcher concluded that the ways through which failure to involve communities affect project success are lack of collaboration between stakeholders, it makes it difficult for the project to attain objectives, it leads to lack of beneficiary support, failure to involve stakeholders leads to project delay and it affects project implementation. Failure to involve stakeholders like an indicator of scope creeping affects success of projects. The researcher recommended that water for life project should continue handling scope creeping well because it is important in fostering success.