Scope in PRINCE2 refers to the sum total of products to be delivered by a project, encompassing all the work that needs to be completed to achieve the project objectives. It defines the boundaries of what the project will and will not deliver, ensuring clarity among all stakeholders about project d…Scope in PRINCE2 refers to the sum total of products to be delivered by a project, encompassing all the work that needs to be completed to achieve the project objectives. It defines the boundaries of what the project will and will not deliver, ensuring clarity among all stakeholders about project deliverables.
In PRINCE2 7, scope is fundamentally linked to the product-based planning approach. Rather than focusing solely on activities, PRINCE2 emphasizes defining products first, which then determines the scope. The scope is documented through several key elements:
1. **Project Product Description**: This describes the final deliverable that the project must produce, including its purpose, composition, quality criteria, and acceptance methods.
2. **Product Breakdown Structure**: This hierarchical representation shows all products required by the project, helping visualize the complete scope.
3. **Product Descriptions**: These detail individual products, specifying their quality criteria, development skills needed, and dependencies.
Scope management in PRINCE2 operates through the change control procedure. Any proposed changes to scope must be formally assessed for their impact on time, cost, quality, benefits, and risk before approval. The Project Board has authority over significant scope changes, while the Project Manager may handle minor adjustments within agreed tolerances.
The Plans practice ensures scope is defined at multiple levels: project level in the Project Plan, stage level in Stage Plans, and team level in Team Plans. Each plan clearly identifies the products within its scope.
Effective scope definition helps prevent scope creep, where unauthorized additions gradually expand project boundaries. By maintaining clear product definitions and robust change control, PRINCE2 ensures that any scope modifications are deliberate, justified, and properly authorized, keeping the project focused on delivering agreed outcomes within established constraints.
Scope in PRINCE2: A Complete Guide for PRINCE2 Foundation V7
What is Scope in PRINCE2?
Scope in PRINCE2 refers to the sum total of the products to be delivered by the project. It defines the boundaries of what the project will and will not deliver. Scope is essentially the answer to the question: What are we going to produce?
In PRINCE2, scope is defined through the product-based planning approach, which focuses on identifying and describing all the products that must be created to achieve the project's objectives. The scope is documented primarily in the Project Product Description and further detailed in Product Descriptions for individual products.
Why is Scope Important?
Understanding and controlling scope is critical for project success for several reasons:
• Clear expectations: It ensures all stakeholders understand what will be delivered • Prevents scope creep: It provides a baseline against which proposed changes can be assessed • Enables accurate planning: Activities, resources, and timescales can only be estimated once scope is defined • Supports quality management: Quality criteria can only be established when products are clearly defined • Facilitates change control: Any changes to scope can be formally assessed for their impact on time, cost, and benefits
How Scope Works in PRINCE2
Scope is established and managed through several key elements:
1. Project Product Description This high-level description defines the overall project deliverable, including its purpose, composition, quality expectations, and acceptance criteria. It is created during the Starting up a Project process.
2. Product Breakdown Structure A hierarchical breakdown of the project's products into their constituent parts. This structure shows the complete scope visually.
3. Product Descriptions Detailed descriptions of each product, including purpose, composition, quality criteria, and quality methods. These provide the detailed scope definition.
4. Work Packages When work is assigned to teams, the scope for that piece of work is defined in a Work Package, which references the relevant Product Descriptions.
The Plans Practice and Scope
Within the Plans practice, scope is one of the fundamental elements that must be defined before other planning activities can occur. PRINCE2 recommends a product-based planning technique that follows these steps:
1. Write the Project Product Description 2. Create the Product Breakdown Structure 3. Write Product Descriptions 4. Create the Product Flow Diagram
Only after these steps are complete should activities, dependencies, and estimates be developed.
Scope and Change Control
When changes are requested, the Change Control approach assesses the impact on scope. If approved, the Project Product Description, Product Breakdown Structure, and relevant Product Descriptions must be updated to reflect the new scope.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Scope in PRINCE2
Tip 1: Remember the Product Focus PRINCE2 defines scope through products, not activities. If an exam question asks about defining scope, look for answers that reference products, Product Descriptions, or the Project Product Description.
Tip 2: Know the Documentation Scope information is found in: • Project Product Description (overall scope) • Product Breakdown Structure (scope structure) • Product Descriptions (detailed scope) • Work Packages (scope for delegated work)
Tip 3: Understand the Sequence Scope definition comes before activity planning. Questions may test whether you understand that products are identified first, then activities are planned to create those products.
Tip 4: Link Scope to Other Elements Be prepared for questions that connect scope to: • Quality (quality criteria in Product Descriptions) • Change control (impact assessment on scope) • Benefits (scope must deliver products that enable benefits)
Tip 5: Scope vs. Requirements Requirements describe what stakeholders need. Scope describes what products will be delivered to meet those needs. These are related but distinct concepts.
Tip 6: Watch for Scope Creep Scenarios Exam scenarios may describe situations where scope is expanding informally. The correct PRINCE2 response involves formal change control and updating scope documentation.
Common Exam Question Types
• Identifying which document contains scope information • Understanding when scope is defined in the project lifecycle • Recognizing how changes to scope should be handled • Connecting scope to the product-based planning technique • Understanding the relationship between scope and quality