The development of scope creep is often signaled by the addition of many unplanned features to the original project. This indicates that the project scope is expanding beyond its initial boundaries. Key indicators include:

Uncontrolled changesto the project scope.

Continuous new requestsfrom stakeholders that were not part of the original requirements.

Increased project complexityand difficulty in managing the project timeline and resources.

Scope creep can lead to delays, budget overruns, and project failure if not managed properly.

Reference

Project Management Institute, 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide),' PMI.

Harold Kerzner, 'Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling,' Wiley.