Summary

Project scope management is vital to a successful project. Scope creep is the biggest category of threat to projects. You need to manage scope firmly, and this begins with understanding what scope and scope creep are and then planning your scope management. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is an essential tool for this.

You have to manage scope constantly and vigilantly. If you are experiencing a number of scope changes, the ability to identify a common cause and then resolve the problem will prove beneficial in the longer term. It is better to manage scope problems before they happen rather than after the event.

The aim of scope management is to ensure that:

• only adequate work is done

• unnecessary work is not done

• you achieve the project's purpose.

The project manager can manage scope by evaluating requested changes and then making approved changes to the project scope, and making any required adjustments to the performance baselines and project plans. The project manager, perhaps working through the sponsor, has to communicate changes in scope to all stakeholders promptly. The project manager must manage the expectations of the sponsor and stakeholders, because the project's deliverables may have altered or their interests may be affected.

The final part of scope management is scope verification where the project seeks formal acceptance from the customer.

Top of Page