Due to the project scope being fixed for the time period, but the customer's business constantly changing, the client usually 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 important that the scope is defined properly and in very much detail.
2. Proper Planning.
When doing the project plan, it is advisable to group all of the activities in relevant groups that are associated with your deliverables. In this manner you can actually and quickly see which activities contribute to the delivery which deliverable.
This will also ensure 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 each deliverable also 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 make sure that you deliver the product quality that meets the need of your customer. These expectations that describe how the deliverable will be measured to make sure they meet the customer's expectations are called 'quality targets'.
To ensure that you meet these quality targets, will demand you have 'quality controls' in place. These controls will ensure that the deliverable can do what it was set out to do. Only when that is in place, are you considering able to make sure that your customer will sign off each deliverable and the project as a whole.
4. Managing scope change.
Every time a customer requests a big change to the scope of the project, ensure that the requirements are properly documented and review the impact on the project deliverables. Make sure that when you have documented any impact, being cost, time or deliverable change, the customer signs the scope change document. Then make certain that the excess resources, time, money or people are provided and assigned to the project. Where website , hold scope change meetings to discuss the change and prioritize contrary to the current deliverables.
5. Reporting.
All changes and their effect on the project must be reported appropriately. This will make sure that if you go past the project deadline that one could prove that is was due to a scope change. In this manner the stakeholders will be more acceptable to the slippage.
Thus by defining the scope properly in the beginning of the project, adding your deliverables to your project plan, manage any scope changes and monitor the caliber 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 an improved managed project.