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Project scope refers to the list of all your project goals, deadlines, and tasks and is often detailed in a document called a ‘scope statement’ or ‘statement of work.’

Every project requires resources, and you can end up wasting a lot of those resources — such as staffing, materials, and time — by not establishing a definitive scope for the successful execution of your project; that’s Resource Management 101!

By laying out a project scope in a document, you give your team a guide outlining all the facets of the project. This document shows every task to be completed, the resources needed, and goals to be achieved. You can widen your project scope if you need to accomplish more or narrow it if you find that your project is too big for your team.

What Are The Main Steps I Should Use In Defining My Project Scope?

Your project scope can have a lot of detail and moving parts, so using these five steps listed below will help you put it all into place:

  1. Outline and define your goals by using the SMART rule:
    1. a. Specific – your specific goals are clear
    2. b. Measurable – your goals are measurable
    3. c. Achievable – it can be done
    4. d. Realistic – your goal is realistic, taking workforce and budget into account
    5. e. Timely – the project can be completed within the expected timeframe
  2. Identify areas that may derail your project, such as possible threats to your project budget or things that could cause delays in its completion.
    1. An accurate accounting of needed resources will ensure that your team has all the tools they need to keep your project on schedule.
  3. Put together a general timeline of what you can achieve. It’s essential to set aside specific milestones to help everyone monitor the project’s progress.
    1. Each milestone needs to have a completion date; this helps the entire team keep track of progress.
    2. If you miss any milestones, be sure to have a plan to help you get back on track.
  4. List all individuals who should be kept apprised of the project’s progress and who have significant responsibilities related to project execution.
  5. When defining and outlining your project scope, it may be helpful for you to ask yourself these questions:
    1. What are the phases in my project life cycle?
    2. Do I already have a project scope statement that I can adapt for this current project?
    3. Have I conducted a project scope analysis yet to determine how broad or narrow the project scope should be?

Once you have thought through all of this information to help you define the scope of your project, it’s time to write your project scope statement!

Here at Piccolo, we will help you set up your project management systems and keep you and your team organized and accountable. Project Management can mean different things to many other business owners; however, if specific follow-up is needed, we develop a way to track, assess, communicate, and complete tasks that need to be prioritized.

We all know it can be not easy to stay on task as a business owner when you’re wearing 17 hats. That’s where Piccolo comes in! In addition to project management, we also offer more services designed to help you achieve your business goals!

Piccolo Solutions

Contact Piccolo Solutions at (615) 348 7758 or www.piccolosolutions.com.