4.1.2 Knowledge check (with solutions)
4.1.3 Bonus Assignment - WBS and dictionary
Define scope.
Overview
This learning module (Lesson 1 of Unit 4) is part of a course called Project Management Fundamentals and may either be completed individually as a stand-alone topic, or part of a trio of learning modules on scope management, or as part of the course.
Learning outcomes.
Defining and managing your project scope enables your team to deliver projects efficiently in accordance with the original requirements, rather than letting them continue to grow, creep, and otherwise snowball.
Upon successful completion of this module, you'll be able to:
- Define scope and scope creep.
- Explain the scoping process.
- Distinguish between issues, constaints, and assumptions.
What is project scope? | 3-5 minute read
Porf. Christianson considers his Project Management Fundamentals textbook a work-in-progress (version 0.5). It is available at OER Commons as PDF download. He also provides a nice companion student workbook also available as a PDF download. For each chapter, the workbook provides a skeletal outline and knowledge checks (with answer keys). In many chapters, there are exercises and examples. It may be provided to students as a whole workbook or subsections may be provided with each chapter.
Read section 1 chapter 6 (Project Scope) of Christianson's Project Management Fundamentals text (PDF resource attached).
FYI: J. Scott Christianson is a professor at the University of Missouri and has an interesting website about technology (from AI to blockchain to crypto and everything in between).
How do I define scope? | 3 minute watch
What is a statement of work? | 3 minute watch
What is scope creep? | 11 minute read
Read this article "7 Steps to Deal With Scope Creep" by Jory McKay of Planio (2019).
Test your knowledge.
- In the first video (Project Management in Under Five), scope is simplified defined as what is contained within which shape?
- Circle
- Square
- Triangle
- Polygon
- Why is scope so difficult to manage?
- Can't please everyone
- Stakeholders change priorities
- Need to balance among various interests
- All of the above
- Which of the following are alternate names for a project charter? Check ALL that apply.
- Statement of Work
- Estimate of Resources Document
- Business Case
- Quote
- T/F: The basic function of a charter is to establish formal authority by defining scope, schedule, budget, and team.
- True
- False
- T/F: Scope creep is when project requirements, goals, or vision changes beyond what was originally agreed upon.
- True
- False
BONUS: Putting what you learned into action.
If you are using the Project Management Fundamentals course over the course of a semester, it is often effective to engage students in teams on a term project. I have had students work with for-profit, governmental, and non-profit (i.e. NGO) organizations to plan events, create digital products, and also prepare strategic initiatives.
To support this idea of a project that allows students to apply what they've learned on an actual project, I have created a series of five transparent assignments:
- External Management - charter creation and stakeholder analysis
- Internal Management - team contract and RACI chart creation
- Scope Management - work breakdown structure and disctionary creation
- Schedule Management - Network analysis to identify critical path and Gantt chart creation
- Risk Management - Risk identification and analysis, creation of risk register
I have omitted the Cost Management competency group because often student projects do not have a budget, other than that of the students time.
Project Work 3 > Scope Management
For a project you are planning (or one your currently executing), try decomposing the project into work packages and creating a work breakdown structure (and dictionary). A WBS is a compact way to represent the project work at the appropriate level of detail, while ensuring nothing is missing.
A set of transparent assignment instructions (resource attached) have been provided that includes the following:
- the purpose of the assignment,
- the knowledge and skills that will be developed by the assignment,
- the task involved,
- a checklist of what will need to be accomplished,
- a rubric of how to assess your work, and
- a sample of finished work.
Transparent assignments are a way for you to get clarity on expectations (see the "Unwritten Rules").