Creative Work Requires Scoping

Our firm works with a lot of creative clients, and there is one common element to these businesses that can make running a creative company difficult: subjectivity.

The results of creative work and the happiness of clients is all a subjective measure. This makes the work, and the delivery of that work, difficult to assess as to whether it is being done correctly, is moving forward in a timely manner, or is even successful. Who defines the creative work in a world of subjectivity?

The client? NO!

It is the role of the company (the expert) to define what creative work will look like, what the process will look like, and what success will ultimately look like. This is the burden a creative must take on. Scoping work in a Statement of Work (SOW) is one key way to define this subjectivity. It's not good if a creative company has no SOW with their clients, or if the SOW hasn't been updated in a number of years. If creative work is the product, then the process of scoping is the packaging. Creative work, fraught with subjectivity, must sit in a well defined package of defined scope.

Assuming is so dangerous when the outcome of creative work is so subjective. If there is no scope to the unknown work being produced, then either the client or the creative company will run into dissatisfaction with the outcomes. Be brave creative company owner! Scope your work! It is for the benefit of your company and client.