Project Scope Management Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of Project Scope Management?

Answer: To define and control what is and is not included in the project

Project Scope Management ensures that the project includes all the work required—and only the work required—to complete the project successfully, preventing both under-delivery and scope creep.

What is 'scope creep'?

Answer: The uncontrolled expansion of project scope without corresponding adjustments to time, cost, and resources

Scope creep is the uncontrolled expansion of project scope—adding features, requirements, or deliverables without adjusting time, cost, or resources through the formal change control process.

Which document serves as the primary output of the 'Define Scope' process?

Answer: Project scope statement

The project scope statement is the primary output of Define Scope, providing a detailed description of the project and product scope, major deliverables, assumptions, and exclusions.

What is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

Answer: A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team

The WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the total project scope into smaller, manageable components (work packages) that can be planned, estimated, and assigned.

What is the '100% rule' as it applies to the WBS?

Answer: The WBS must capture 100% of the project scope—all deliverables and work, including project management work, at the lowest level of detail

The 100% rule states that the WBS must include 100% of the scope defined in the project scope statement and project charter—all work, no more and no less.

What is the purpose of the 'Validate Scope' process?

Answer: To formally accept completed project deliverables from the customer or sponsor

Validate Scope is the process of obtaining formal acceptance of completed project deliverables from the customer or sponsor, confirming that deliverables meet the defined acceptance criteria.

What is a 'requirements traceability matrix' (RTM)?

Answer: A grid that links each requirement to its source and traces it through the project lifecycle to verify it is met

The requirements traceability matrix links each requirement to its source (stakeholder, business need, etc.) and traces it forward through design, development, testing, and delivery to ensure every requirement is addressed.

What is the difference between 'product scope' and 'project scope'?

Answer: Product scope describes the features and functions of the deliverable; project scope describes all the work required to deliver that product

Product scope defines the characteristics and functionality of the product, service, or result to be created; project scope defines the work that must be performed to deliver the product.

During which process is the scope baseline created?

Answer: Create WBS

The scope baseline is created as an output of the Create WBS process and consists of the scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary—the approved version of these documents used for comparison throughout the project.

What is a 'WBS dictionary'?

Answer: A document that provides detailed information about each WBS element, including descriptions, acceptance criteria, assumptions, and responsible party

The WBS dictionary is a companion document to the WBS that provides a detailed description of each WBS component—its scope of work, deliverable descriptions, assumptions, responsible party, schedule milestones, and acceptance criteria.

What is 'gold plating' in the context of scope management?

Answer: Adding features or functionality beyond what the customer requested or approved, typically by the project team

Gold plating is when the project team adds unrequested features or functionality beyond the approved scope, believing the customer will appreciate the extras—but doing so without formal approval.

Which of the following is an input to the 'Collect Requirements' process?

Answer: Project charter and stakeholder register

The project charter and stakeholder register are key inputs to Collect Requirements—the charter provides the project's high-level requirements, and the stakeholder register identifies who has requirements to contribute.

What is the primary tool used to decompose deliverables into smaller, manageable components in the Create WBS process?

Answer: Decomposition

Decomposition is the primary technique for creating a WBS—progressively breaking down project deliverables and project work into smaller, more manageable components (work packages).

What does it mean to 'baseline' the project scope?

Answer: To formally approve the scope documents and use them as the reference point against which actual performance will be measured

Baselining means formally approving the scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary through Integrated Change Control, establishing them as the approved reference standard against which scope performance is measured.

How does 'Control Scope' differ from 'Validate Scope'?

Answer: Control Scope manages the current approved scope and processes change requests; Validate Scope obtains customer acceptance of completed deliverables

Control Scope monitors the project scope for changes and manages unauthorized changes through the change control process; Validate Scope is about getting formal acceptance of completed deliverables from the customer.

What is 'rolling wave planning' and how does it relate to scope management?

Answer: A planning approach where near-term work is planned in detail while future work is planned at a higher level, with detail added as more information becomes available

Rolling wave planning progressively elaborates the WBS—near-term work packages are fully detailed, while future work remains at a higher WBS level until sufficient information is available to decompose it further.

What is the primary purpose of the 'Plan Scope Management' process?

Answer: To create a scope management plan that describes how scope will be defined, validated, and controlled

Plan Scope Management creates the scope management plan—the document describing how project scope will be defined, developed, monitored, controlled, and validated throughout the project.

Which technique is commonly used to collect requirements from a large number of geographically dispersed stakeholders?

Answer: Questionnaires and surveys

Questionnaires and surveys are effective for collecting requirements from large numbers of dispersed stakeholders efficiently, though they sacrifice the interactive dialogue of workshops.

What does it mean for a requirement to be 'testable' or 'verifiable'?

Answer: The requirement can be objectively evaluated to determine whether it has been met

A testable or verifiable requirement can be objectively evaluated—through inspection, testing, demonstration, or analysis—to determine unambiguously whether it has been satisfied.

What is the role of a project sponsor in scope management?

Answer: The sponsor approves the scope baseline, authorizes scope changes above the project manager's authority, and serves as the final arbiter of scope disputes

The project sponsor approves the scope baseline, authorizes significant scope changes, provides funding adjustments when scope changes affect budget, and resolves scope disputes that exceed the project manager's authority.