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Project Scope Statement

A project scope statement is a critical component of project planning that defines the boundaries and deliverables of a project. It's more detailed than the high-level overview provided in a project charter and serves as a guide for project execution and control. Here are the key elements and characteristics of a project scope statement: [1]

  1. What is included (in scope):

    • This section clearly defines what the project will deliver. It outlines specific deliverables, features, functions, and characteristics of the product or service being created.

  2. What is excluded (out of scope):

    • Equally important, this part explicitly states what the project will not include or deliver. This helps manage expectations and prevent scope creep.

  3. Deliverables:

    • A detailed list of the tangible and intangible outcomes that the project will produce.

  4. Acceptance criteria:

    • Specific conditions that must be met for the project deliverables to be accepted by the stakeholders.

  5. Constraints:

    • Any limitations or restrictions that may impact the project, such as budget, time, resources, or technology.

  6. Assumptions:

    • Factors that are believed to be true for planning purposes, but haven't been confirmed. These help understand the context in which the project scope is defined.

  7. Work breakdown:

    • A high-level overview of the major components of work required to complete the project.

The scope statement is typically contained within a Statement of Work (SoW), but it can also stand alone to provide details for an estimate. It's used to:

  • Clearly communicate project boundaries to all stakeholders

  • Provide a baseline for measuring project progress and success

  • Help prevent scope creep by clearly defining what is and isn't part of the project

  • Assist in resource allocation and scheduling

  • Guide decision-making throughout the project lifecycle

For software development projects, a well-defined scope statement is crucial. It helps ensure that all team members and stakeholders have a shared understanding of what the software will and won't do, which features will be included, and what the end product should look like.

Remember, the scope statement should be detailed enough to guide the project but flexible enough to accommodate necessary changes as the project progresses. It's often revisited and refined during the project planning phase and may be updated (with proper change control procedures) as the project evolves.