How to Create a Scope of Work.

What you’ll learn.

• What is a Scope of Work?
• What is a Scope of Work Used For?
• How to Write a Scope of Work.
• Benefits of a Scope of Work Document.
• FAQs. 

What is a Scope of Work?

A scope of work is an important part of project management, serving as a roadmap to define the needs of a project. The document is often used with a statement of work, which is a legal document that agrees upon the tasks and objectives necessary to complete a project.

While they may vary between industries, SOWS will typically describe how to achieve the project goals by demonstrating a path to success.

What is a Scope of Work Used For?

A scope of work is used to clearly outline a project plan, sharing information with all stakeholders to stay on track and avoid miscommunication. Both the project manager and client will develop the document to reach a common understanding of the work to be done. 

The document will: 

• Prioritise a timely delivery by defining and meeting deadlines.
• Manage potential risks. 
• Keep a record of the most important data. 
• Signature from both parties to confirm the agreement made.

How to Write a Scope of Work.

What Should a Scope of Work Include?

A SOW document will state what is and isn’t included in the framework of a project. Here are a few things you might expect to find in a sample scope of work:

• Specific tasks and objectives. Written in clear and understandable language to avoid confusion.
• Expected outcomes. Detailing what the client will receive. 
• Deliverables. Any goods and services the project will deliver.
• Limitations. What might prevent the project from running smoothly. 
• Timeline. Describing a clear overview of how the project will run from beginning to end. 
• Milestones. Allowing stakeholders to note key progress.  
• Reporting. Keeping everyone updated on how the project is performing, including reports on status, progress, finances and who will deliver each task.  
• Definitions glossary. Including any business phrases and acronyms, along with their definitions, to break down jargon and help readability.
• Price and payment terms. Detailing payment conditions and their schedule. 
• Protocol for changes. It’s a good idea to define how stakeholders will execute any potential changes to the project, including any contingency plans. 
• Resources. What will you need to complete the project? Which teams will be involved? What is your budget? 

Scope of Work Examples. 

Depending on the project and industry, a scope of work may look different to every team. As you can imagine, the size of the document can vary depending on the scale of the project. Whether you’re a freelancer, contractor or part of an agency, here are a few examples of when you may use a SOW: 

• Construction. A contractor will need an approved scope of work before work can begin on a property, providing a checklist of tasks and a timeline of events.
• Web design. Designing a website or developing an app? An SOW document can specify important resources.
• Digital marketing. If you’re creating a piece of content for a client, such as an article or video marketing asset, a scope of work document will highlight key goals and deliverables.
• Events planning. Set out needs and delegate tasks for personal, corporate and conference events.

Discover our free, downloadable scope of work templates to get started with Adobe.

Editing a Scope of Work Document with Adobe Acrobat.

With the help of Adobe Acrobat online services, you can edit, convert and share files with ease. Once you have downloaded one of our free scopes of work templates, you can use our online PDF Editor to start making changes.

• Upload your document to PDF Editor by clicking Select a file or drag and drop the file into the drop zone.
• Choose the file you wish to make changes to.
• Sign in to add comments.
• Use the toolbar to insert text, add sticky notes, highlight and illustrate with drawings.
• Download your edited file or get a link to collaborate and share with stakeholders in one place.

Password Protect your Scope of Work.

If your project deals with sensitive information, Adobe Acrobat online lets you restrict access and set a password to your scope of work with just a few clicks. Password-protect your PDFs for extra peace of mind when sharing with stakeholders across the web.

Once you have your document ready to go, you may need to send it to stakeholders to get approval or request comments. On the flip side, you might also need to sign and fill in a scope of work document while on the go.

Benefits of a Scope of Work Document. 

There are various essential benefits to writing a scope of work for your project, especially if you work in a team or with clients. A SOW allows stakeholders to:

• Agree on project requirements. 
• Identify potential risks and road-blockers that might affect the success of the project. 
• Track the timeline to prevent backlogues and conflicts with other ongoing projects. 
• Avoid unnecessary expenses and stay within budget. 
• Assess how manageable goals are, including realistic expectations.  

When a scope of work begins to go off track — such as pushing back deadlines or adding extra deliverables in the middle of a project — scope creep can occur.

This is where the project timeline becomes delayed and tasks begin to exceed the initial scope. At best, this might look like a few extra deliverables that don’t cause many issues. At worst, the project can go over budget or distract from the main project goals. 

A well-planned, pre-approved SOW can help to prevent unexpected surprises, delays and pushbacks. Communicate expectations thoroughly from the start and stick to agreed terms to help accomplish your project successfully.

FAQs.

What are the Main Components of a Scope of Work File?

The main components of a SOW document can vary depending on the project. They can include a variety of fields to specify and agree upon the needs of a project, including:

• Project Overview  
• Timeline 
• Deliverables
• Objectives
• Payment
  

Who Should Write a Scope of Work?

The document should be written by the project manager and client as a collaborative effort, reaching a common understanding of project goals and realistic deliverables. Depending on the size of the project, other key stakeholders may also have a say in the scope of work.

Is a Scope of Work the Same as a Statement of Work?

A scope of work document is not the same as a statement of work, although they often go hand-in-hand. A SOW details what will and will not be covered across the work timeline.

A statement of work is an official agreement between two parties on the terms of the project. External projects often use a statement of work as a contract between the client and the organisation delivering the project.  

Related content.

• Scope of work templates
• Statement of work templates
• How to create a statement of work