What is a Scope?

A Scope is a comprehensive document that sets out the timeline, budget, deliverables and any additional terms related to a project. This document is created jointly during the Discovery phase and once executed, becomes the official blueprint, schedule and budget for the project. It will differ from our proposal in that it will be far more detailed, based on our discussions and research.

Anything not explicitly included in the scope is implicitly excluded. That is, assume nothing is included or will be delivered that isn't in the Scope. This level of transparency and accountability is the cornerstone of good work and a good project experience for both parties.

Scope Elements

Not every one of these elements will be necessary for every project.

1. Project Overview

• Project name and summary
• Background or purpose
• Business goals and objectives
• Target audience and stakeholders

2. Scope of Work

• Features and functionality: pages, components, integrations
• Design requirements: branding, responsiveness
• Technical requirements: platform, hosting, security
• Other requirements: accessibility, special device compliance, security clearance, etc.

3. Deliverables

• Wireframes
• Design mockups
• Codebase
• Documentation
• Deployment plan
• Training or admin guides (if applicable)

4. Timeline & Milestones

• Project phases
• Key dates and deadlines
• Review and approval cycles
• Availability of core project members and decision makers

5. Roles and Responsibilities

• Client Lead responsibilities (content, feedback, approvals)
• Client Decision Makers (testing commitment, turnaround commitment)
• Developer responsibilities (coding, testing)
• Third-party dependencies

6. Budget & Payment Terms

• Total project cost
• Payment schedule
• Additional costs (licenses, hosting, etc.)

7. Assumptions & Constraints

• Available technology stack
• Content delivery expectations
• Browser/device support scope
• Known limitations

8. Change Management

• Scope change process (this document)
• Approval and scheduling of change requests (client portal)

9. Acceptance Criteria

• Review and testing process
• Client sign-off requirements

10. Out of Scope

• Items not included in the project (e.g., SEO, copywriting)

Changes to Scope

We always want to be flexible, so changes to the Scope are possible even after it has been signed. Our Scope Change process is outlined below. Visit the client portal to request a change. Please note that both parties must agree to the Scope change before it becomes an official part of the Scope.

Upon receipt of a Scope Change request, we will review it and respond within 24 business hours with our assessment of Scope impact:

1. None
2. Amend: we will provide an estimate of any change to budget, timeline or deliverables. Once approved, we will confirm time/cost before proceeding.
3. Defer: an item we recommend be addressed in the future. We will document the rationale and cost.
4. Follow up: we need more information.

Once a Scope change has been approved by both parties, it will be incorporated into the official project Scope and treated as such.

If you have any questions or concerns that this document does not answer, please let us know and we'll do our best to address it to your satisfaction.