How do you define project scope when requirements are incomplete?

1 Identify the problem and the goal

The first step to define project scope is to understand the problem that the software project is trying to solve and the goal that it is trying to achieve. This will help you to align the expectations of the stakeholders, users, and clients, and to prioritize the features and functions that are essential for the project. You can use tools like problem statements, SMART goals, or vision statements to articulate the problem and the goal clearly and concisely.

2 Gather and analyze the available requirements

The next step is to gather and analyze the requirements that you have from the stakeholders, users, and clients, and to identify any gaps, conflicts, or ambiguities. You can use techniques like interviews, surveys, workshops, or prototyping to elicit and validate the requirements, and to get feedback and approval from the relevant parties. You can also use tools like user stories, use cases, or scenarios to document and organize the requirements in a structured and consistent way.

3 Define the scope boundaries and assumptions

The third step is to define the scope boundaries and assumptions of the project, which will help you to clarify what is included and what is excluded from the project, and what are the conditions and constraints that affect the project. You can use tools like scope statements, scope models, or scope diagrams to define and communicate the scope boundaries and assumptions, and to avoid scope creep or scope changes later in the project.

4 Estimate the resources and time needed

The fourth step is to estimate the resources and time needed to complete the project, based on the scope boundaries and assumptions. This will help you to plan and allocate the budget, staff, equipment, and materials for the project, and to set realistic and achievable deadlines and milestones. You can use techniques like analogy, expert judgment, or parametric estimation to estimate the resources and time needed, and to account for the risks and uncertainties involved.

5 Review and refine the scope definition

The final step is to review and refine the scope definition of the project, and to ensure that it is aligned with the problem, the goal, and the requirements of the project. This will help you to verify and validate the scope definition, and to make any necessary adjustments or revisions based on the feedback and changes from the stakeholders, users, and clients. You can use tools like scope verification, scope validation, or scope control to review and refine the scope definition, and to manage any scope changes throughout the project lifecycle.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?