Project Scope Management - Plan Scope Management

In this process we create the plan that documents how the project scope will be defined, validated and controlled which will provide the guidance needed to on how to manage scope throughout the project. You don't want project scope creep or your initial goals will turn into something else when it's not controlled by you. 

Let's look at the Input, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs for this process

1) Project management plan

• Any subsidiary plan that influences planning scope and managing project scope

2) Project charter

• The project charter contains a broad description of the project and product and is used to plan this process

3) Enterprise environmental factors

• Factors that may influence this process would be:
• Organizational culture
• Infrastructure
• Personnel administration
• Marketplace conditions

4) Organizational process assets

• Factors that may influence this process would be:
• Policies and procedures
• Historical information and lessons learned knowledge base

5) Expert judgement

• Seek the advise from those people who are experts in the area you are scoping out so that you can get the most accurate picture needed to plan.

6) Meetings

• Conduct meetings with the appropriate people (Sponsor, team members, selected stakeholders, etc.). Remember communication is key. 

7) Scope management plan

• The components of this plan include:
• Process for preparing a detailed project scope statement
• Process that enables the creations of the WBS from the detailed project scope statement
• Process that establishes how the WBS will be maintained and approved
• Process that specifies how formal acceptance of the completed project deliverables will be obtained
• Process to control how requests for changes to the detailed project scope statement will be processed (Think change control process here) 
• Depending on the project this plan can be formal or informal, written with details or broad. 

8) Requirements management plan

• This plan describes how requirements will be analyzed, documented, and managed. With each phase-phase relationship you will choose the most effective relationship and document the approach in the requirements management plan. 
• Components of this plan include: 
• How requirements activities will be planned, tracked and reported
• Configuration management activities (trace, track and report) 
• Prioritize requirements
• Product metrics
• Traceability structure of what will be captured on the traceability matrix

Source: PMBOK 5th ed.