Manage The Scope Of Your Project

Each project a manager undertakes usually arrives with four main areas requiring the manager’s attention - balancing the available resources, keeping the project with the estimated time schedules, ensuring the project budget is being managed properly, and keeping the project moving according to the documented expectations and agreed upon specifications. Of the above four realms, it is the project scope that calls for a greater degree of attention from the project manager. If allowed to roam free without boundaries, the project budget, time, and resources are consumed, threatening to bring the project to failure and late delivery, with less than satisfying expectations.

It is the project scope that specifies why the project was put into motion, how much of the finances the project will require, and how long it will take. Any time the scope changes, especially growing in size, the time frame for overall completion, funds allocated, and assigned resources must match the adjustment of scope.

Think of a construction site, or an automobile manufacturing plant, that begins a project. Exact specifications and tolerances were agreed upon, a set of defined expectations were discussed and written in stone, and a certain budget was assigned to the task. Various resources were culled together and placed on the project. Meetings were conducted, bringing everyone on the same page, as questions were answered, any misunderstandings were clarified, and at the end, everyone in attendance knew exactly what their responsibilities and contributions should accomplish.

In the middle of the project, customers decided to bring additional enhancements and desires to the project. The car needs a different gas cap, or the building suddenly needs a larger window, or have the window moved to a different location. A change in the project may seem insignificant to the customer, but the gas cap threads were milled to a certain thread depth, screws into the fuel slot at a certain degree and angle, and does not meet the original tolerances. The movement of the window is possible, but the frame must be adjusted to meet the new specifications. The engine in the car must be shifted several inches, which changes the arrangement and specifications of the other parts under the hood, affects the chassis, reflects upon how the car was engineered to meet aerodynamic tolerances, weight differentials, and gas mileage compliances. All of these changes take time, involves several resources, and uses the original budget. Once the customer sees they can ask for changes and receive them, it becomes a regular routine to continue adding to the original specifications. Pretty soon the project begins to lag in quality, available time, and passing deadlines. And you have been informed the budget is set and cannot be adjusted. While more materials and resources are diverted to the project, quality suffers and stress levels increase.

By keeping the scope of the project within specifications, resources, time availability, and finances are managed and kept on track. PMP training online lends a wide range of assistance in providing project managers with the skills and knowledge to lead projects, and successfully deliver projects that meet the customer’s desires. K Alliance training is a source of quality project management training, adhering to the Project Management Book of Knowledge.

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