Keeping the Project Scope in Focus
Defining clear business requirements for a project lets the team make scoping decisions to stay focused on successful delivery.
When discussing the requirements for a software product, people naturally focus on its functionality. However, exploring requirements needs to begin with a clear understanding of the project’s business requirements. Business requirements inform all those involved about why we’re working on the project and what we expect it will do for the business and the customer.
Business requirements include statements of business objectives, success metrics, a product vision statement, scope and limitations, and similar information. This article describes some key aspects of keeping the project’s business objectives and scope in focus to keep the work on track and the participants aligned toward success.
Why Define Scope?
The project’s scope defines the boundary between what’s in and what’s out. It indicates which subset of the ultimate product vision will be implemented during a specific project, release, or development iteration. The scope therefore defines a baseline against which the team can evaluate proposed changes for possible incorporation.
