Scope Management

Description

Scope Management is a component of the project plan concerned with defining and controlling what 'is' and what 'is not' included in the scope. It concerns product scope (the features and functions of a product or service) and project scope (the work required to deliver the product).

The National Project Management System Real Property Procedure on Scope Management has been developed to describe the components and requirements of scope management within the development process of real property NPMS projects.

Objectives

deliver the project within the approved budget; ensure any necessary scope changes are approved and ensure that sufficient funding is in place
deliver the completed project within the approved schedule
ensure original scope requirements are met and additional requirements are relevant to all stakeholders' needs
enhance communications with stakeholders for enhanced management of client expectations
ensure the timely optimization and availability of human resources
ensure all potential scope changes are reviewed for impact on cost, schedule, and quality—and appropriately approved
improve client satisfaction and project team morale

Real Property Context

The very nature of real property projects within the federal environment is such that the original scope of a project is extremely susceptible to changes resulting primarily from the difficulty to fully define scope in the first instance. Although the identification of client requirements is their responsibility, project teams are encouraged to offer their resources and skills to clients in order to facilitate the development of scope. Project Leaders/Project Managers must expand their role to provide considerable functional planning assistance in order to ensure compliance with standards and other regulatory concerns (i.e. sustainability, accessibility, health and safety, etc.).

Real Property Branch has developed The Government of Canada Workplace 2.0 Fit-up Standards for office accommodation including standards for general-purpose office space and quasi-judicial office space, as well as guidelines for ministerial and deputy head accommodation. Compliance with these Standards must be ensured during the development of the project scope and monitored throughout each stage of the project.

In the event that scope changes are necessary, it is essential that they are defined as early as possible in the project process. Stakeholder discipline and commitment to a 'change process' for defining, recording, acceptance of responsibility and approval of scope changes is a key element in the successful management of change.