Chapter 4, Problem 1RQ

What are the six elements of a typical scope statement?

Summary Introduction

To identify:

The essentials of an ideal report elaborating the scope of a project.

Introduction:

The scope of a project is what puts together all the elements involved. It defines what the expected end results of a project are. It is the scope of a project that leads to the development of a project plan. There are six elements in a project scope checklist.

Explanation of Solution

The first element in a project scope statement is the project objectives. The overall objectives in relation to customer needs are elaborated in this relation. The questions of what is required, by when, how much cost would incur, at what times and where shall be answered via the project objectives. The next element is the deliverable or the outcomes of the project. The expected outcomes during the project period has to be provided in measurable terms. Deliverable are also known as requirements. Milestones are the third element where important events of the project are being highlighted. The deliverables are used as the base to decide the milestones. All participants in the project should be able to easily identify such milestones. Technical requirements are the fourth element. They define the specific aspects with regard to performance or clarifies the deliverables. Limits and exclusions of the project being presented is the next element. If limits of the project are not correctly communicated, the participants of the project will be misled with unrealistic or false anticipations. The use of time and resources on wrong areas could also be a result of the above. Exclusions define the boundary of the project, emphasizing on what is not being included in the scope applicable. The final element is to carryout reviews with the customer. Understanding and agreeing upon expectations is done at this stage. The conformance of customer expectations, budgets involved, the timeline of the project and requirements with regard to performance is addressed here. In avoiding misunderstandings and dues, all issues must clearly be communicated.