What is project scope?
Project scope defines the project in terms of planning project goals, deliverables, constraints, risks, and responsibility matrix. The scope is co-evolved by the client’s project stakeholders and the industrial project architects.
This document provides the approved criteria for the completion of the project. The scope document is essential for industrial projects, especially large projects. In large projects, a defined scope helps manage the project better. The chances of scope creep are lesser in a project where the scope is defined.
Managing the scope needs good internal communication and openness among the project’s stakeholders (internal and external).
What is scope creep?
There is said to be scope creep when there are changes in the project without any change requests. This scope creep often changes the project budget and timelines. A reason for scope creep could be because the key stakeholders change requirements. Architects for industrial projects should try to ensure that there are no scope creeps
Scope changes must be as per the change request process. The scope change must involve monitoring the project status and compare with the baseline scope.
The Project Stakeholders
Project stakeholders are in alignment with the project goals. They participate in the design charrette to develop the User Requirement Specifications.
The stakeholders should participate in the design charrette, bringing everyone on the same page. The time spent on design charrettes often reduces the iterations in the design. Furthermore, industrial project architects often have the responsibility to lead the design charrette.
Project scope
Creating the project scope is an essential milestone in any project. Apart from the battery limits of the project, the scope also provides for the criteria of project success. The project scope creates guidelines for all future project-related decisions. The project scope also defines the critical project criteria.
Additionally, the project scope enlists the priority of each element in the facility. The project scope should be in simple language and short. The readers of the scope document are of multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Moreover, the project scope includes expectations, obligations, and timelines for all involved.
The project scope is a framework for the project. The scope document has the following:
- Project overview: It is the summary of the project.
- Project deliverables: This section details the deliverables and milestones of the project.
- Scope: This section deals with the specific tasks, the responsibility matrix, and the acceptance criteria.
- Project battery limits
- Project Timelines: This section contains the timelines for the project, the priority and critical milestones.
- Stakeholders: This section defines the list of stakeholders and the roles assigned.
- Project requirements: It is a list of parameters co-evolved by the client and architects for industrial projects.
- Project controls: this section has information about the reporting frequency, communication protocol, change requests, issue management, and risk management.
- Authorisation levels
The architects must initiate a design charrette with the client’s stakeholders to collect inputs for the project. Moreover, the project scope must reflect all the requirements.
The takeaway
Architects must prepare a project scope along with the client. The project scope is an essential step towards the successful completion of the project.
