Which aspect does scope creep most negatively affect?

Scope creep primarily affects the project budget and timeline because it involves the continual expansion of project requirements beyond the initially agreed-upon scope. When additional features, tasks, or changes are introduced without proper management or adjustment to the project plan, it leads to the need for more resources, time, and sometimes additional costs. This can cause delays in the project completion date, ultimately impacting the overall timeline and budget allocated for the project.

When projects exceed their original scope without corresponding adjustments in resources or deadlines, teams often find themselves working overtime, increasing costs, or rushing to meet deadlines, which can result in further complications. This dynamic illustrates how critical it is to manage the project scope effectively to maintain control over budget and schedule.