Let’s talk about scope creep. Or as I like to call it this time of year, the ghost that haunts your Power BI projects. You start with a sleek, elegant report, one goal, one purpose. It’s a thing of beauty. It glows like a jack-o’-lantern on Halloween night. And then… the whispers begin.
“Can we just add a quick filter here?”
“Actually, can it show the trend over time too?”
“Oh! And can it compare against last year’s target that we didn’t quite agree on but sort of used?”
Fast forward a few weeks and suddenly you’re 47 DAX measures deep, wrangling historical data that was never meant to be tracked, all while fending off that dreaded phrase: “The data is wrong.”
I’ve Been There
There was a time I thought I could handle every request. I told myself: “It’s just a small tweak. I’ll remember it.”
Well… I didn’t.
I didn’t set guardrails.
I didn’t document changes.
I didn’t even have a proper change control process.
And the result? A report that started as a sleek operational report turned into a Frankenstein of ad-hoc KPIs, month-end comparisons, and “quick” experiments that were anything but quick.
At one point, I was working over 50 hours a week, not building new insights, but trying to remember what the report was even meant to be doing.
When I finally took a step back, I realised something important: scope creep wasn’t just happening to me, it was happening because of me. My lack of boundaries had opened the door to it.
So, How Do We Prevent Power BI Scope Creep?
I wish someone had told me this earlier: the success of a Power BI project isn’t just about what you build, it’s also about what you protect.
1. Start with a Report Blueprint
Every build begins with clarity. Who’s it for? What’s it measuring? How often should it refresh?
Define:
- The purpose and audience
- Core metrics and their definitions
- Any invisible filters or logic
- The reporting cadence (Is this daily? Weekly? Are we comparing to previous month or fiscal quarter? Calendar month or perhaps every third Wednesday of the month? )
Get this agreed and signed off. Literally. Treat it as your North Star.
When someone says “Can we just…”, pull out that blueprint and ask: “Does it fit into this vision?”
2. Build a Simple Change Control Process
Change is fine. Uncontrolled change isn’t. Every request goes into a log, including:
- Who asked for it
- Why it matters
- What it affects
- When it might happen
If you’re a solo developer, this is your lifeline. It’s how you stop “Future You” from cursing “Past You”.
3. Protect the Data Model
If our model was built for live data, it’s risky to start sneaking in snapshot logic without a full rethink.
One model, one purpose.
Mixing them is like trying to use one map for every country, you’ll get lost fast.
4. Say No (With Grace)
I know, it’s uncomfortable. Especially when we want to please your stakeholders.
But saying no is saying yes to maintaining quality.
My go-to phrase is: “That’s a great idea. Let’s explore it in Phase 2 so we don’t compromise what’s already working.”
Translation: “I hear you. But also: boundaries.”
5. Review, Reflect, Realign
People forget what was agreed. That’s human. So schedule regular “report health checks”.
Remind your team what’s in scope, what’s working, and what’s next. New ideas go into a roadmap, not directly into the report.
Final Thought: Dashboards Aren’t Pokémon
We don’t have to catch ’em all. Not every request needs to become a feature. And just because Power BI can do it, doesn’t mean it should.
Scope creep doesn’t start with big asks. It starts with “just one more thing.”Guard your purpose. Protect your report. Build with intention.
Remember: a report isn’t just a collection of visuals, it’s a story. And the best stories? They know when to stop.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Until next time, let’s keep crafting accessible insights that make a difference!
