Scope creep from unbudgeted stakeholder requests erodes contingency

Risk statement. Three of the last five sprints absorbed work that was not in the approved scope baseline. At the current rate the 12% contingency reserve will be fully consumed by early October, leaving nothing for genuine unknowns.

Trigger / early warning. More than two unbudgeted requests accepted in a single sprint, or contingency drawdown passing 60%.

Consequence if realised. No financial buffer for the remaining 40% of the project. Any genuine surprise becomes an immediate escalation.

Current response. Mitigate. Formal change-control gate; anything over 3 days of effort needs written sponsor approval.