Question

Describe a project scope document. Why is it important to clearly define the project scope?

Answer 1

Project charter also called project scope statement is nothing but the statement that include the scope, goals, objectives and the participant of the project by providing information about the roles and responsibilities, goals and objectives, main stakeholders and project manager's authority over the project.

The six elements of typical scope statement are: -

• Goals and objective of the project
• Outcome of the project that can be tangible and measurable
• Project's special event or checkpoints of project life.
• Technical requirements of the project that is essential in effective performance.
• Limits and exclusions that is not available to a project.
• Review of the internal and external customer.

The main purpose of project scope document created at project initiation phase is to authorize the work of the project formally to the project manager by providing him or her the authority to do his or her job. A project can start only after the formulation of project charter.

Project charter should be signed by the project sponsor because the project manager can start the project officially once it is signed. Project sponsor is a senior management that approves and support the allocation of resources of any project, involves in goal-setting and assess the success of the project.