The Critical Question Often Overlooked in Project Scope

When kicking off a project, defining scope is one of the most natural starting points. You map out the objectives, the deliverables, and the work required to achieve the desired outcome.

You might ask:

• What do we need to accomplish?

• What is the end state?

• What work is required to achieve the end state and produce the expected deliverables?

A critical question that is often overlooked during planning: What is NOT in scope?

At first glance, the work may seem straightforward. But have you accounted for the tangential work that could impact timelines, resources, or stakeholder expectations?

Some commonly overlooked scope considerations include:

• Training: Is training included? If so, is it a one-time session, or do you need to plan for recurring training options? Who is responsible for long-term training?

• Adoption Metrics: Does your project end when the deliverable is complete, or do you need to meet an adoption goal before closing it out?

• Related Efforts & Integrations: Are there dependencies or connected initiatives (e.g., system integrations) that need to be included? You want to be clear about if they’re included in your project or will be treated as a separate project.

No project is immune to change, but having a clear scope, including what’s excluded, puts you in a stronger position to manage shifting priorities. With well-defined boundaries, you can:

✔️ Anticipate risks and dependencies early on.

✔️ Make informed tradeoffs when scope creep arises.

✔️ Set clear expectations with stakeholders from the start.

A well-defined scope isn’t about avoiding change, it’s about being prepared for it. You’ll be in a better position to discuss tradeoffs and impacts of project changes to enable well informed decisions.