Normally, work needs to be accomplished to deliver a product, service, or result with the specified features and functions.
One of the project manager’s responsibilities is to ensure that only the needed work (the scope) will be performed and that each of the deliverables can be completed in the allotted time and within budget.
The documentation of the scope of the project should explain the boundaries of the project, establish the responsibilities of each member of the team, and set up procedures for how a work that is completed will be verified and approved. This documentation may be referred to as the scope statement, the statement of work, or the terms of reference.
Generally, there are three main processes involved:
- Planning — The planning process is when an attempt is made to capture and define the work that needs to be done.
- Controlling — The controlling and monitoring processes focus on documenting tracking, scope creep, tracking and disapproving/approving project changes.
- Closing — In the final process, the closing includes an audit of the project deliverables and an assessment of the outcomes against the original plan.
A baseline in project management is a clearly defined starting point for your project plan. It is a fixed reference point to measure and compare your project’s progress against. This allows you to assess the performance of your project over time.
A project baseline typically has three components: schedule, cost and scope. Often, these three baselines are separately monitored, controlled, and reported to ensure each is on track. When fully integrated, it may be referred to as a performance measurement baseline (PMB).
A PMB provides you with the ability to efficiently monitor and manage how a change in one component affects the others. For example, when your baselines are integrated, you can quickly tell how a schedule delay will impact project costs. However, many organizations do not have the tools and processes required to fully integrate the three baselines.
A baseline should be documented and controlled. It should not be changed without following formal change control procedures, such as using a change request form and following a documented change approval process.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Scope Management and Baseline Development, a 2-day course that offers advanced techniques in project management. During the scope management and baseline development training course you will learn the fundamentals of the project scope, work breakdown structure and performance managing baseline.
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