What risk does scope creep present in project management?

Scope creep refers to the gradual expansion of a project’s scope without corresponding adjustments to resources, timeline, and costs. When additional requirements or features are added to a project without careful consideration and formal approval, it leads to increased workloads and necessitates additional resources, which can cause delays.

Choosing increased time and costs without adjustments as the correct response highlights the main concern associated with scope creep; the original project parameters are disrupted, leading to extended timelines and often greater financial implications. These unexpected demands can strain teams and resources, leading to potential project delays and budget overruns, which can critically affect the project's overall success.

In contrast, the other choices do not encapsulate the essence of scope creep effectively. While reduction of resources could be a possible outcome in a mismanaged project, it does not directly tie to the nature of scope creep. A convenient termination of contracts does not typically arise from scope creep; instead, it often leads to project continuation but with challenges. Strict adherence to the initial agreement runs counter to the definition of scope creep, which by nature involves deviations from the original scope.