Control Your Solar Scope
Stop me if you've heard this one: You're about to install panels on a customer's home. They come into the yard and tell you that your design is inaccurate and that you cannot do the install. Also, they were promised a free battery, and that isn't even on the signed installation agreement. Also they already told the sales rep they can't install on Thursdays. The crew packs up and heads back to the warehouse. Everyone's unhappy. The crew is unhappy, the project manager is unhappy, most especially the customer is unhappy.
If this has happened to you, you're not alone. Scope creep in residential solar projects is like that unwelcome guest who shows up uninvited and wreaks havoc on your meticulously planned party. But what exactly is scope creep, and why is it such a thorn in the side of solar projects?
Scope, in the context of residential solar projects, refers to the defined boundaries and deliverables of the project. It encompasses everything from system size and panel placement to equipment specifications and regulatory requirements. It's the roadmap that guides us from initial concept to final installation. Importantly, your project scope tells you what is included and necessary, and what is not.
Now, scope creep? That's when those boundaries start to blur, and the project begins to spiral out of control. It's the gradual expansion of project objectives beyond their original boundaries, leading to unplanned changes, additions, and modifications that can throw a wrench in even the most well-executed plans.
So, how does scope creep rear its ugly head in residential solar projects? It's often lurking in the shadows from the very beginning, ready to pounce at the slightest misstep. Often it comes from incomplete requirement gathering early in the project's life, during the sales process, site surveys, or design phase. Not defining key requirements in these stages result in massive losses of time, money, and morale later in the project.
But fear not, fellow solar warriors, for there are ways to vanquish this nefarious foe and keep our projects on track.
Often these three steps are lumped into a "Checkpoint Call" wherein the project manager--representing the EPC--, the sales professional--representing the sales dealer or themselves as a 1099 contractor--and the homeowner--representing the end user of the product-- to agree on the scope of the project. Here it is everyone's responsibility to be honest, thorough, and transparent about the product and the process.
Here it falls on the project manager to "Present and Prevent"
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Present:
Show the design, validate the contract, and set expectations for timelines and process, including what may be expected of the customer or sales rep later in the process, such as scheduling, HOA, signing utility documents etc. This means the PM must understand and be confident in what they are presenting.
Prevent
Run through the checklist of questions, even if the answer to many of them is "no". Here a "no" is great! It means you're defining your scope and agreeing to what you won't allow to slow down the project. You can refer back to this checklist if creep appears later in the process.
So, let's review what we've learned:
By embracing these proactive strategies, we're not just managing scope—we're mastering it. So, let's keep those timelines tight, those change orders minimal, and those smiles abundant. Together, we'll light up the skies with successful solar projects and happy homeowners. Here's to a bright future, one solar panel at a time
Professional Teacher turned Professional Sales Leader
7 个月Love this!