Final answer:
Strict adherence to a project timeline is not a common cause of scope creep; on the contrary, it helps in preventing it. Lack of clear project goals, poor communication, and inadequate project planning are the true common causes of scope creep that can cause projects to extend beyond their original scope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to scope creep, which is a project management term referring to uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope. Strict adherence to a project timeline is actually not a common cause of scope creep; it is usually a method of controlling and preventing it.
The other options provided, such as lack of clear project goals, poor communication, and inadequate project planning, are indeed typical causes of scope creep. When team members have to balance multiple priorities, especially when under pressure due to external threats such as funding cuts, it can lead to a lack of focus on the defined project scope and contribute to creep.
However, the strict adherence to timelines tends to encourage discipline in project management, ensuring that added or expanded tasks do not push the project beyond its intended scope.