Scope of Work and Requirement Specification

During the project process, I often talk about the sow and the sow. But what are the differences and functions of the two?

First of all, the scope of work manual is a description of the scope of work of the project that has constraints on the stakeholders of the project. The scope of project work refers to the items that the project requires to do in order to successfully achieve the project goal. To determine the scope of project work, define the work boundary of project management and determine the project objectives and deliverables.

Secondly, the scope of work instruction not only describes business requirements, but also includes work requirements, business requirements, implementation requirements, and other information of project management.  

  Let's take a look at the following project process diagram:

 In this figure, we can see that after the sales team finds the sales opportunity and establishes the project, the sales team and the pre-sales engineers should work with the customer to determine the scope of work.

At this time, what are the questions to answer in the scope of work instruction?

1. What are the scope of products or services generated by this project? That is to say, what functions and features are included in the products or services produced by this project?

  2. You need to answer the work that must be done to achieve the functions and features of products or services produced by the project and the deliverables that must be produced;

     

  From the above content, we can see that the scope of work of the project includes what is done (the goal of the project) and deliverables generated after the project is done.

When we know what to do, we need to plan what to do. At this time, the system solution will be available.

The solution describes what we should do for the purpose of project goals and the submission of these deliverables. Here we will talk more about the framework. For example, the technology, programming language, network architecture, and management specifications used.

After we have compiled the scope of work instruction and solution, we will answer what we want to do and how to solve the problem. Next, we need to answer a definite method to achieve the project goal, resources, including time, manpower, and money, that is, estimate the number of people, time, and money required.

In this way, the project is carried out in a controllable range.

Through the above description, we can draw the conclusion of the role of the project work scope statement:

1,Improve the accuracy of project cost, time and resource estimation.

2,It is helpful to clearly define the responsibilities of all parties. 

3,This improves the benchmark for measuring and controlling project progress.

The scope of the project is clearly defined, the specific work content is also clear, and the product features and deliverables are also detailed, at this time, the cost, time, and resources used will be estimated more accurately, avoiding the project risks defined by shoot head;

 

Then, when the scope of work is clearly defined, what is the role and significance of the software requirement specification?

First, the software requirement specification is prepared to give both users and software developers a common understanding of the initial provisions of the software and to make it the basis of the entire development work. The preparation is based on the scope of work instruction, solution, and collection with user requirements, and it will become the basis of the outline design.

Secondly, we can see that the software requirement specification was written only after commercial negotiation.

This is because before the business negotiation, it is unclear who will do the project. In some projects, there is also confidentiality due to management or competition in the same industry, it is impossible for all Parties to provide too much information and invest too much resources. Therefore, the scope of work shows that the content of the scope book is still a framework, and the requirement is a detailed content, therefore, the scope of work instruction cannot replace the requirement.

In addition, the description of the Requirement Specification mainly describes the product features and features of the project, and does not involve the responsibilities and obligations of the dual release;

 

Here is an example:

For example, Company A wants to make a table, ask Company B to do it. through communication with Company B, we know that Company A is the general manager of the table, this table is 3 meters in length and 1 meter in width. The table needs to be made of mahogany materials. No screws can be used. There is also a drawer with a password lock. After this table is ready, company A's own workers will move the table, and the table needs to be completed within two weeks after the contract is signed with Company B. After completion, the raw material source of the table is required.

This is a scope of work instruction, and several questions are returned:

1,Why is this table made? The general manager's desk.

2,What are table features? 3 m in length, 1 m in width, mahogany material, drawer password lock.

3,What are the responsibilities and obligations of Dual-producer? Company A is responsible for transportation, and Company B is responsible for production.

4,Deliverables are proof of source of raw materials.

 

Company B then told Company A that after the design of this table is completed and approved by internationally renowned producers and design companies, if you have cooperated with the design company for many times, please ask the two monks in daxing'anling to be the project manager and hire two porters for production in daxing'anling. In order to ensure the quality, we are going to hire the China Quality Supervision and Management Association for full supervision.

This is a solution (how to do it ).

 

After the business contract was completed, Company B continued to communicate with Company A, and determined that the table should be in red and be able to bear the weight of 200, and the corners of the table should be round. The requirement does not include the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, which is the biggest difference from the sow.

 

The difference between the scope of work statement and the requirement statement is mentioned above. The standard work is responsible for both parties? Win-win is actually the starting point for doing everything.