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SOW

SOW — Scope of Work

A document defining the work to be performed, the deliverables, responsibilities and acceptance requirements for a project or activity.

Definition

A Scope of Work (SOW) is a controlled document that defines the objectives, work activities, deliverables, responsibilities, technical requirements and acceptance criteria applicable to a project, contract or engineering activity. It establishes a common understanding between stakeholders regarding what work is to be performed and the expected outcomes.

Why It Matters

Scopes of Work define the activities, deliverables and responsibilities necessary to achieve the objectives of a project or engineering activity.

In Practice

Scopes of Work are widely used in engineering, procurement, maintenance and construction activities to define contractual obligations, technical requirements and project deliverables.

Common Misuse

A Scope of Work defines the work to be performed and its deliverables, whereas a Request for Information seeks clarification of existing project or technical requirements.

Term Details
Synonyms:
SOW; Scope of Work; Statement of Work; Work Scope
Classification:
Engineering Documentation
Document Type
Intermediate
Applications

Project Management; Engineering Design; Contract Management.

Where It's Used

Engineering.; Construction.; Oil and gas.; Petrochemical.; Infrastructure.

References

PMBOK Guide; ISO 21502

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