7 Steps to craft a Scope Management Plan

What is Project Scope?

The goals and objectives of a project are defined by the scope of the project. The project scope outlines those objectives, as well as the deliverables, tasks required to complete the deliverables, costs, and deadlines. It is, in fact, the entire project's parameters.

Scope aids not only in defining the project's boundaries but also in determining who will be responsible for the project's tasks and the process that will be used to ensure that everything is completed correctly and approved. A scope statement, also known as a statement of work, is used to collect this information.

For project managers, the statement of work is crucial. Changes will occur in a project, but they must be managed to stay within scope, or the project's success will be jeopardized. A change request to the project's change control board is the only way to change the scope of a project.

When changing the scope of a project in construction, a change order form is used and must be approved by both the owner and the contractor.

What is a Scope Management Plan?

A scope management plan, like any other plan, is a set of procedures in place to ensure that the project includes all of the required tasks. The scope management plan focuses on how the scope is explained, developed, structured, and verified.

Project managers can define and map their project using a scope management plan, ensuring that it stays within the planned scope. The scope management plan assists project managers in allocating resources in such a way that the project is completed on time, on budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Project scope management is about:

•        Defining the work that must be done throughout the project

•        Controlling and monitoring those processes

•        Documenting and tracking to avoid scope creep when approving or disapproving changes

•        Closing, which includes an audit of deliverables and comparing the outcome to the plan

Steps for a Scope Management Plan

The steps to making a scope management plan are as follows:

1. Identify stakeholders and obtain their requirements.

2. Identify the project's goals and objectives in a detailed project scope statement.

3. Map out all of the necessary tasks using a work breakdown structure (WBS).

4. Establish a procedure for maintaining and approving the WBS.

5. Make a list of the project team's roles and responsibilities.

6. Establish a formal acceptance process for completed project deliverables.

7. Decide how to manage and track change requests in relation to the scope statement.

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