When you're working with clients or agencies, you'll need to know what an example scope of work (SOW) is and why it's so integral to the success of a project. A well-organised SOW can demonstrate the project vision for all stakeholders and set a clear path of direction.
Find out how to write a scope of work and share it with stakeholders with our guide.
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.
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:
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:
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:
Discover our free, downloadable scope of work templates to get started with Adobe.
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.
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.
Add passwords to your PDF files or encrypt them for an extra safety dimension. Personalise your protection with restrictions on copying and editing. Customise security policies to allow everyone to apply PDF password protection.
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:
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.
Download our valuable Scope of Work template to see what you need to do.
Then use Adobe tools to edit in details specific to your job.
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:
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.
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.
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