▷ Scope of a Project; Definition and How to Do It

The scope of a project establishes what must be addressed to successfully achieve the result. end of it, establishing the limits of the project, its goals, objectives, deliverables and requirements; therefore, the scope is fundamental, since it provides a clear guide for the execution and control of the same.

He scope of a project will always be one fundamental part in the management of any project, since it allows you to address all the necessary aspects to achieve success.

Well, it is in the scope where establishes clearly and simply how the project will be approached and what will they be its objectives, deliverables, requirements and limits; In this way, deviations and risks in the execution of the project can be prevented, and budget planning can be facilitated.

However, How to scope a project easily and without complications?, Here we will tell you how, but first let's define its concept.

What is the scope of a Project?

The scope of a project refers to the specific limits of the work to be performed as part of a project; defines the goals, objectives, deliverables and requirements thereof. Thus, they are what the project team plans to address.

A good project scope must be clear, precise and detailed enough enough to be understood by all stakeholders in the project. You need to establish what is to be achieved, how success is to be measured, what is to be delivered, who is involved, what is not included, and any relevant constraints or information.

It is important to note that the scope of the project may be dynamic and may need to be reviewed and adjusted as the project progresses and new circumstances or information are presented.

For Project Management Institute, (2008) states that “Scoping is the process of developing a detailed project and product description. (p. 119)

Basically, the scope of a project defines what must be addressed to successfully achieve the final result of the project.

How to scope a project?

Scoping a project is a vital part of project planning, as it provides you with clear guidance for project execution and control.

Here are some steps you can take to scope a project:

1. Identify Project Objectives: The first thing you should do is understand what you hope to achieve with the project. What is the problem you are trying to solve?What success would it look like? Having a clear understanding of the objectives will help you define the scope of the project.
2. Define the Project Deliverables: Deliverables are the specific results that will be produced as a result of the project. These can be products, reports, services, etc. Clearly defining the deliverables will help set expectations and provide a sense of direction for the project.
3. Identify Project Requirements: Requirements are the needs or conditions that must be met for the project to be successful. These can be technical, resource, personnel, time requirements, among others.
4. Set Limitations and Exclusions: Not everything can be included in the scope of a project. It is important to identify project constraints (for example, time, budget, resource constraints) and clearly state what is "Out of range", that is, what will not be addressed or delivered by the project.
5. Create a Project Scoping Document: A “project scope document” it is a formal document that describes all of the above aspects and is used as a tool to manage expectations and guide project execution. This document must be approved by all interested parties before work on the project begins.
6. Review and Refine Project Scope: As the project progresses, you may discover that some of your initial assumptions were incorrect, or new information or challenges emerge. In these cases, it is important to review and, if necessary, adjust the scope of the project. Any changes to the scope of the project must be documented and approved by all interested parties.

Remember, a good project scope is clear, precise, and detailed enough to be understood by everyone involved in the project; a well-defined scope can be the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that veers off track.

Project scope management

 The scope of a project does not end with its writing,requires management consisting of a series of procedures that ensure that a project stays on its original work plan and complete successfully.

Scope changes often occur on projects, and if not managed effectively, can result in a project that runs beyond its original deadline, goes over budget, or does not meet objectives agreed.

Here are the key steps to achieving good project scope management:

1. Scope Planning: It involves creating a scope management plan that documents how the scope of the project will be defined, validated, and controlled.
2. Scope Definition: This is the process of developing a detailed description of the project and the expected product, service, or result.
3. Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS/WBS): A WBS is a tool that breaks down the project scope into manageable components; helps teams understand project deliverables and the specific tasks they need to complete them.
4. Scope Verification: It is the process of formal acceptance of the completed project deliverables by the interested parties. Essentially, it is about ensuring that the deliverables meet the defined acceptance criteria.
5. Scope Control: It refers to the management of changes in the scope of the project; this involves monitoring the status of the project and the product and adjusting any changes that may affect the scope. Any changes to the scope must be documented and approved before being implemented.

For Project Management Institute, (2008), “Project Scope Management includes the processes necessary to ensure that the project includes all the work required and only the work to complete the project successfully. Managing the scope of the project focuses primarily on defining and controlling what is included and what is not included in the project.” (p. 104)

Well, good scope management can help avoid the “scope creep” (the uncontrolled growth of the project scope beyond its original limits), which can lead to delays, additional costs, and conflicts between stakeholders. Scope management is a critical component of successful project management. and requires effective communication and detailed documentation.

Bibliographic references

• Project Management Institute (2013). Guide to the Fundamentals of Project Management (PMBOK I ® Guide) — Fifth Edition.