{"id":81,"date":"2020-08-03T14:09:23","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T18:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/?p=81"},"modified":"2023-04-05T12:22:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T16:22:34","slug":"project-scope-management-why-it-is-important-how-to-plan-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/project-scope-management-why-it-is-important-how-to-plan-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Scope Management: Why it is Important & How to Plan for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Project scope management<\/strong>\u00a0sounds like one of those unnecessarily complicated terms productivity gurus coin to sound smart. Still, by the time you finish reading this post, you will realize why project scope management is so important, and how your team can benefit from defining a project scope statement today. We will also explain how\u00a0Nifty<\/a>\u00a0can serve as a hub for your whole project, which will make it easy to keep things under control. Let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n

What Is Project Scope?<\/h2>\n

Project scope<\/a> breaks down all the work that you need to get done in order to deliver the project. It involves all the objectives, goals, and deliverables one project has and all the processes that are required to complete it.<\/p>\n

Project scope defines goals, but also tasks and deliverables that are needed to achieve those goals. It also sets budgets, deadlines, and makes it clear what \u201csuccess\u201d is.<\/p>\n

Project managers usually have the project scope written down in a statement of work document, also known as\u00a0the project scope statement<\/strong>. Project managers return to this document often, as they want to make sure the project is on the right track at any given moment.<\/p>\n

Project scope management defines what type of work is needed to complete the project, and it guarantees that the work done is the work that was required and was within the scope. Project (scope) manager ensures that the project stays within the budget and deadlines and that it also meets the needs of the end customer.<\/p>\n

In short, defining the project scope is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the end result is a successful one. Without a clear project scope, you are leaving too much to chance, and even if you do achieve a somewhat good result, it will probably be with a lot of wasted resources.<\/p>\n

Sticking To The Plan \u2014 Avoiding Project Scope Management Creep<\/h3>\n

The project scope statement is an essential document as it will ensure that the project stays on the right course. A project manager will make sure that every team member takes actions aligned with the project scope, in the most optimized way possible, without wasting resources.<\/p>\n

The whole point of project scope management and the scope statement is to avoid\u00a0scope creep<\/strong>. This term describes changes to the project scope that are made \u201con the go\u201d and are not done deliberately and under control. These changes on their own often don\u2019t seem significant, but they often have big consequences in terms of wasted resources, missed deadlines, and unhappy stakeholders.<\/p>\n

Allowing The Right Kind Of Change<\/h3>\n

Having a clear scope statement and a project manager who monitors the process making sure all activities are leading the project in the right direction, will prevent scope creep. This is why it is essential to use tools that enable you to\u00a0keep everything organized and in one place<\/a>, rather than scattered across multiple apps that only serve one purpose.<\/p>\n

But, it is important to say that project scope management won\u2019t prevent changes. It will\u00a0only prevent uncontrolled changes<\/strong>\u00a0that don\u2019t lead the project in the desired direction. If a change is necessary and keeps the project on course, a project manager will give it the green light.<\/p>\n

In other words, the project scope shouldn\u2019t be blindly followed to the letter, vetoing all changes. It is there to make sure that scope creep doesn\u2019t derail the project. Although it is not set in stone, all the changes that are made to the initial project scope should still be aligned with its core. If that\u2019s the case, then success is guaranteed at the end.<\/p>\n

Important Steps In Defining A Project Scope Management Plan<\/h2>\n