Scope Management

The preparation of a detailed PROJECT SCOPE STATEMENT is CRITICAL to PROJECT SUCCESS and builds upon the major deliverables, assumptions and constraints that are documented during project initiation

- PMBoK® Guide – Fourth Edition, page 112

Effective project management follows a practical sequence. Firstly we need to understand the reason for existence of the project which is defined in the Project Charter and Business Case.

Quite simply, this is the WHY. The next step is to define the WHAT. This is defined in the Project Scope Statement which defines the boundaries of the project and is used to form a common understanding amongst your stakeholders in terms of what is going to be delivered. Once you have a clear understanding of the WHAT can you only then move onto the HOW which is defined in the Project Management Plan.

Today, many Project Managers still fall into the trap that when they are allocated a project they jump straight from the WHY (The Project Charter) into the HOW (defining the project management plan). How can you start detailed planning on a project, if you do not know WHAT is you need to deliver in order to meet your stakeholders expectations?

When there is POOR SCOPE DEFINITION, final project costs can be expected to be higher because of the inevitable changes which disrupt project rhythm, cause rework, increase project time and lower productivity and morale of the workforce.

In this Professional Development Package (PDP), we will focus on the practical application of key scope management tools and techniques which will assist you defining the boundaries of the project, manage your stakeholder’s expectations and minimize scope creep. The topic is called Effective Scope Management =SMARTA Management, and we learn how to more effectively define, manage and control scope on your project by using the Scope Management Plan and Scope Statement.

The PDP starts with an e-learning module, that will take approximately 15 minutes to complete, and gives you an overview of the topic. Next, we will deepen our knowledge by examining the matter further in the knowledge pack – that could either be read on on-line or downloaded as a hard copy.

After this, you will apply your newly acquired skills and carry out the assignment. Finally, after passing an on-line exam, you will be able to instantly apply what you have learned in the work place as well as claim your PDU points, should you be a certified Professional.