What do you do if your software design clients and stakeholders have ever-changing expectations?

Frequent communication with clients is key. This will allow us to be aware of possible changes ASAP, while maybe they are still thinking about them. That will allow the project to adapt better to the changes.

Agile can help but you do need to be concerned with scope creep which can cause the project to take 2 steps forward and 1step back.

It's easy to get lost in the weeds. Of course needs change; and the needs of the business serve the methodology for development not the other way around. Communication, foresight and prioritization are key (A dash of intuition and creativity never hurts either). If you've built the procedures and tools to support you correctly, this can be easy. But easy or hard, you need to adapt to the needs of your environment.

Communication is the key and works both ways. I communicate any changes, how the system works and process improvement suggestions. The team should communicate and include all stakeholders of the system on upcoming change suggestions.

According to my experience, specifying clearly what is in the scope of the project is as important as clarifying what is NOT in the project

This is one of the key role of any Project Manager or Scrum Master to define the boundaries once the sprint has been started. We can surely discuss the changes and adopt it in the product backlog. The team should be kept safe from such deviations as it affects the efficiency and productivity. It creates hindrance in achieving the sprint goals. All of this should be done in a professional manner so that each stakeholder should be on same page and in good faith.

Beware of "sneaky clients" who try to circumvent the formal change request process by going directly to a team member instead of the project manager. To make sure expectations are clear, provide training during internal project kick-off so every team member will know how to deal with direct requests from clients who should have gone through the formal change request channel.

Setting clear goals and expectations right from the start.Educate client in the importance of triple constraint(cost,time,scope) . work together to create the best balance and be aware of any changes to the cost, time and scope.I strongly believe that client expectations should be set during the sales phase so there are no bad surprises at the start, if you have missed, as a project manager you have it discussed during project kick off meeting.

Changing requirements means that probably not everything can be done, sitting with the customer and agree in the priorities is essential

Sometimes clients ask for changes because they do not have the technical knowledge to understand the impact. Presenting options help. Clearly outline the ways to fulfill their requests, what each option entails - hours, costs, possible impact on other parts of the build, etc. Change request is an expected part of digital projects, regardless of how well the project was defined. A consultative style is a win win for everyone.

In my experience, clients like having options presented to them. After all, they may not have the technical knowledge to articulate their needs. Communication in the form of "Option A means...cost, timeline..Option B means...we recommend..." is an excellent way to achieve clarity, manage expectations, and reach agreements efficiently.

Educate stakeholders about software development complexities. Highlight trade-offs between features and project quality. Use tools like interactive prototypes for clarity. Clarify expectations early to avoid last-minute changes.

Educating stakeholder is a skill all team members should have. Aside from the benefit already mentioned, change requests is also a perfect opportunity to showcase how the team can help clients in the long run, beyond the immediate project. For instance, some trade-offs in software development involve short term loss (e.g. one less feature) but long term gain (the ability to scale with more features). Clients always appreciate advice that help them succeed and look good!