Scoping

A plan consists of steps progressing towards an objective.

How fast we can achieve an objective depends on two factors:

1. How fast we progress at each step
2. How well defined each step is, so that we know once it is finished and we can progress to the next one.

If the steps are not well defined, we might delve on them too long. For example, we might keep reading more and more knowledge, even though we have enough. Or, we might keep refining something already good enough.

Scoping is the art of defining what is to be done (“inside the scope”) and what is not to be done (“outside of scope”).

It is not enough to do it orally. Your team might still feel like they have to go beyond, to do a bit more, to be a bit safer, in case you change your mind. Hence, you must save the project scope in a written,  unambiguous document everyone can access. Only conspicuous communication can prevent your team from second-guessing your words.

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