How do you manage scope changes?

1 Define the scope

The first step to managing scope changes is to define the scope of your project clearly and precisely. The scope defines what your project will deliver, what it will not deliver, and what the criteria for success are. You should document the scope in a scope statement, a project charter, or a similar document that outlines the project objectives, deliverables, assumptions, constraints, and exclusions. You should also involve your stakeholders, especially your sponsor and your client, in defining and approving the scope to ensure alignment and buy-in.

4 Manage the expectations

The fourth step to managing scope changes is to manage the expectations of your project stakeholders and customers. You should set realistic and achievable expectations for the scope, quality, time, and cost of your project, and avoid promising more than you can deliver. You should also manage the expectations for the scope changes, and avoid accepting or rejecting them without proper analysis and negotiation. You should also educate your stakeholders and customers about the benefits and risks of the scope changes, and how they affect the project goals and outcomes.

5 Negotiate the trade-offs

The fifth step to managing scope changes is to negotiate the trade-offs between the scope and the other project constraints, such as time, cost, quality, and resources. You should understand that any change to the scope will have an impact on the other constraints, and that you may need to adjust them accordingly. You should also use the project management triangle or the iron triangle as a framework for negotiating the trade-offs, and ensure that you balance the scope, time, cost, and quality of your project. You should also involve your stakeholders and customers in the negotiation process, and seek their agreement and approval for the trade-offs.

6 Implement the changes

The sixth and final step to managing scope changes is to implement the changes in your project plan, schedule, budget, and other documents. You should update your project documents with the revised scope information, and ensure that they reflect the current status and direction of your project. You should also assign the tasks and responsibilities for implementing the changes to your project team members, and monitor and control their execution. You should also verify and validate the changes with your stakeholders and customers, and ensure that they meet their requirements and expectations.

7 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?