Due to the project scope being fixed for the time frame, but the customer's business constantly changing, the client usually really wants to change their scope frequently. And what's even worse is that the larger the project, the more likely it will be that this will happen. So here are five tips to help you manage the scope of a project.
1. Cast in concrete.
This may seem easy, but it is vital that the scope is defined properly and in quite definitely detail.
2. Proper Planning.
When doing the project plan, it is best to group all of the activities in relevant groups that are associated with your deliverables. This way you can actually and quickly see which activities contribute to the delivery of which deliverable.
This will also make sure that once you have completed several activities, that you may mark the deliverable as completed. This will also add the advantage of easily reporting on the status of every deliverable and to monitor the progress on each deliverable.
3. Quality measurement.
As important as it is to complete and deliver a deliverable, could it be to ensure that you deliver the product quality that meets the need of one's customer. These expectations that describe how the deliverable will be measured to make sure they meet up with the customer's expectations are called 'quality targets'.
To ensure that Basecamp Online meet these quality targets, will demand which you have 'quality controls' in place. These controls will ensure that the deliverable can do what it was attempt to do. Only when that is in place, will you be able to ensure that your customer will sign off each deliverable and the project all together.
4. Managing scope change.
Whenever a customer requests a change to the scope of the project, ensure that the requirements are properly documented and review the effect on the project deliverables. Make sure that after you have documented any impact, being cost, time or deliverable change, the customer signs the scope change document. Then ensure that the excess resources, time, money or people are provided and assigned to the project. Where necessary, hold scope change meetings to go over the change and prioritize contrary to the current deliverables.
5. Reporting.
All changes and their effect on the project should be reported appropriately. This will make sure that if you go at night project deadline that you can prove that is was because of scope change. In this manner the stakeholders could be more acceptable to the slippage.
Thus by defining the scope properly in the beginning of the project, adding your deliverables to assembling your project plan, manage any scope changes and monitor the standard of all deliverables it will be possible to control the scope of the project in a far more formal manner, which will give you the benefit of a better managed project.