Scope Parameters and Boundaries
A LinkedIn Post Summary
Trevor Nelson tackles common misconceptions about scope, emphasising its dynamic nature. He refutes the notion that scope is fixed or solely comprised of tasks, explaining that it encompasses both the work to be done and the features of a project or product. Nelson highlights that scope exists at different levels of granularity and knowledge, evolving as the project progresses. He illustrates this by noting that even projects with uncertain paths, like Elon Musk's goal of colonising Mars, have identifiable scopes, representing the understanding of what needs to be achieved.
Moreover, Nelson stresses that adaptive projects still have scope, contrary to the belief that only traditional, predictive projects do. He asserts that scope is not a rigid list of tasks but rather an understanding of the project's objectives, flexible enough to accommodate changes and uncertainties. He presents scope as a guiding concept that starts broad and vague, gaining clarity as the project unfolds, and emphasizes the importance of managing assumptions, risks, and changes within the scope framework.