Scoping
For a project to be completed successfully we need to be clear what completion means. It is a very good idea to define success at the beginning of the project - this is where project scoping comes in. By understanding project limits we can make sure we stick to these during the project (avoiding scope creep) and focus our efforts on meeting this project scope.
Let's continue with the racing team. The race is two months away. In order to be ready for then, the following tasks must be complete:
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In the car
- The car must be cleaned and prepared to race.
- The worn parts in the car’s engine must be replaced.
- A new style of gearbox must be fitted.
- The car’s tyres must be replaced with new ones.
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By the driver
- They must be familiar with the new gearbox.
- They must have learnt the course for this race.
- They must have driven practice laps.
- The paperwork must be completed and submitted.
What is and what isn't in a project scope?
The mechanics have received the parts to replace the worn ones in the engine and have started to fit them.
Project Scope
Meanwhile the car maintenance team have begun to prep the car and are washing it.
Project Scope
The accounts department have begun the paperwork for the race entrance fee.
Project Scope
With the parts replaced in the engine, the mechanics are moving on to fitting the new gearbox.
Project Scope
Good progress is being made with the gear box, so the mechanics are talking about fitting a new fuel injection system.
Project Creep!
The requirements of the project are that the new gearbox is fitted and nothing else. Fitting a new fuel injection system could delay the engine being ready reducing the amount of time for the driver to familiarise themselves with the gearbox.
The new tyres have been collected from the wholesaler.
Project Scope
The maintenance team have finished cleaning the car and have decided to paint a new livery on the car so it really stands out in the race.
Project Creep!
The requirements of the project are just that the car is clean and prepared to race. The new livery should be scheduled into a later project otherwise there is a risk that the amount of time the driver has to do practise laps will be reduced.
The driver has learnt the course.
Project Scope
The new gearbox is fitted.
Project Scope
Having learnt the course for this race, the driver has decided to learn the course for the next race as well.
Project Creep!
The goal of this project is to learn the course for this race. Learning the course for the next race is not one of the project goals, so spending time on it will not help in the delivery of this project.
The old tyres have been removed and the new tyres have been fitted.
Project Scope
With all the mechanical work finished, the mechanics have submitted the race compliance paperwork.
Project Scope
The driver has tested and got used to the gearbox on the test track.
Project Scope
The car designers and the driver have got together and decided that some wind tunnel testing would help improve the car in the future.
Project Creep!
While testing the car will undoubtedly be useful and lead to improvements in the design, it is not part of the scope of this project. This will eat into the time allocated for practise laps.You didn’t manage to complete all scope of tasks or avoid project creeps so the project ticked over...