It can seem easy to establish the scope of a project when you are starting a project. Everyone must agree on the scope of the project. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a project.
Unfortunately, no. It is one of the most difficult tasks when initiating a Project. Although it may seem simple at first glance, it is not. It may seem simple at first glance. Be careful. Do not make this mistake. You will soon be flooded with Change Requests, and then you will be facing the terrifying Project Failure.
Many Project Managers believe that being vague about the scope of the project is a good thing. It stops any arguments between project stakeholders about scope and allows the project start to move forward. Because requirements are not yet documented, it is often unclear at the initiation stage what the project can deliver. This is a problem because you can create problems in the future.
Work Breakdown Structures That Work (And How to Implement Them). For example, well-meaning business stakeholders are prone to changing their minds after a project has begun. They keep demanding more functionality, but they insist on the same budget and the same timeframe. The Project Manager can’t insist that the deliverables have changed because the scope of the Project is so vague. It becomes difficult to resist scope creep.
These 5 steps will help you avoid falling into this trap. These are:
1.Insist on proper Business stakeholder input starting at Day 1. They will scream and kick, but it’s your reputation at stake if the project doesn’t deliver.
2. Ask the Business Stakeholders what they think the Project is delivering. This will help you to see where there are differences of opinion.
3.Now that you have the high-level information, get down to the details of the deliverables. Get the input of the Business Analysts and Development Teams at this stage to quickly clarify what is possible within the given timeframe.
4.Remember that what is Out of Scope is just as important as what is In Scope. So don?t overlook it.
5. Once you have finished describing the project scope, make sure to send it to the Business Stakeholders for their feedback and comments. Your project will be more likely to succeed if they are on board.
There are many more things, but these steps will help you avoid falling at the first hurdle.
my-project-management-expert.com provides additional tips on how to complete the vital Project Scope Statement and deliver this by writing a Project Scope Statement in a Project Initiation Document. There are many other useful tips on how to manage the complex area of Project Scope.
