Which step is not conducive to maintaining overall scope when working on a major project?

A step that is not conducive to maintaining the overall scope when working on a major project is frequently changing project objectives without proper review and management approval. This leads to 'scope creep', which is the term used to describe how a project's requirements tend to increase over time. For example, if you keep adding new features or tasks without assessing the implications on time, cost, and resource allocation, you risk compromising the project's success. It's essential to have a change control process in place to evaluate the impact of any changes before they are implemented.

Project scope is a critical part of project management, and it defines the specific goals, deliverables, features, and functions that are to be included in the project. Maintaining the overall scope of a project requires careful planning, clear communication, and strict adherence to the predefined objectives.

Key concepts related to managing project scope include: 1. Scope Planning: Defining the work that needs to be done and the processes that will be used to perform it. 2. Scope Definition: Breaking down the major project deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts. 3. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): A visual representation of the scope that breaks down the deliverables into hierarchical chunks of work. 4. Scope Verification: Ensuring that the project remains on track with its planned objectives and all stakeholders agree on the current state and end goals. 5. Scope Control: Managing changes to the project scope in a systematic way through a change management process.

When a project's scope is not well managed, it can lead to delays, cost overruns, lower quality deliverables, and can even cause project failure. It is the role of the project manager and the team to carefully manage scope to ensure project success.