Section: Volume A
Explanation:
5.3.3.1 Project Scope Statement
The project scope statement is the description of the project scope, major deliverables, assumptions, and constraints. The project scope statement documents the entire scope, including project and product scope. It describes, in detail, the project's deliverables and the work required to create those deliverables. It also provides a common understanding of the project scope among project stakeholders. It may contain explicit scope exclusions that can assist in managing stakeholder expectations. It enables the project team to perform more detailed planning, guides the project team's work during execution, and provides the baseline for evaluating whether requests for changes or additional work are contained within or outside the project's boundaries.
The degree and level of detail to which the project scope statement defines the work that will be performed and the work that is excluded can help determine how well the project management team can control the overall project scope. The detailed project scope statement, either directly, or by reference to other documents, includes the following:
Product scope description. Progressively elaborates the characteristics of the product, service, or result
described in the project charter and requirements documentation.
Acceptance criteria. A set of conditions that is required to be met before deliverables are accepted.
Deliverable. Any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is required to be
produced to complete a process, phase, or project. Deliverables also include ancillary results, such as project management reports and documentation. These deliverables may be described at a summary level or in great detail.
Project exclusion. Generally identifies what is excluded from the project. Explicitly stating what is out of
scope for the project helps to manage stakeholders' expectations.
Constraints. A limiting factor that affects the execution of a project or process. Constraints identified with the
project scope statement list and describe the specific internal or external restrictions or limitations associated with the project scope that affect the execution of the project, for example, a predefined budget or any imposed dates or schedule milestones that are issued by the customer or performing organization. When a project is performed under an agreement, contractual provisions will generally be constraints. Information on constraints may be listed in the project scope statement or in a separate log.
Assumptions. A factor in the planning process that is considered to be true, real, or certain, without proof or
demonstration. Also describes the potential impact of those factors if they prove to be false.
Project teams frequently identify, document, and validate assumptions as part of their planning process.
Information on assumptions may be listed in the project scope statement or in a separate log.
Although the project charter and the project scope statement are sometimes perceived as containing a certain degree of redundancy, they are different in the level of detail contained in each. The project charter contains high level information, while the project scope statement contains a detailed description of the scope elements.
These elements are progressively elaborated throughout the project. Table 5-1 describes some of the key elements for each document.
Table 5-1. Elements of the Project Charter and Project Scope Statement
Project Charter
Project purpose or justification
Measurable project objectives
and related success criteria
High-level requirements
High-level project description
High-level risks
Summary milestone schedule
Summary budget
Stakeholder list
Project approval requirements
(what constitutes success, who decides it, who signs off)
Assigned project manager,
responsibility, and authority level
Name and authority of the sponsor or other person(s) authorizing the project charter
Project Scope Statement
Project scope description (progressively elaborated)
Acceptance criteria
Project deliverables
Project exclusions
Project constraints
Project assumptions
