“Project” and “product” are words widely used in the project management world. They play a crucial role in scope management, which is what project managers use to ensure projects run smoothly, under budget, and on time. Scope management also ensures the quality of the project or product remains satisfactory.
The terms “project” and “product” are often used directly for scope and may be heard as “project scope” and “product scope”. Online PMP training courses provide an in-depth understanding of these two critical keywords. However, in this blog article, we’ll look at their functions for the PMP scope management knowledge area. What is the difference between project and product scope? What is the difference between the product scope and the project scope? Before we get into the specifics of the product and project scope, let’s first describe exactly what is the product and project.
What are Project and Product?
“Project” is described as “a transitory undertaking with a beginning and an end that delivers a unique product, service, or outcome” in the Project Management Professional certification exam, according to the PMI’s PMBOK, this is the project definition. A project may be the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, which began in 1933 and was completed in 1937. It goes without saying that the bridge has only been built once, making it a one of a kind rather than an often duplicated commodity. The process of building the bridge was the project.
As for “product,” a product life cycle starts with the formation of a new product and concludes with its discontinuation. Multiple projects may be needed to be delivered within the product life cycle. For example, the iPhone is a product. Is Apple still manufacturing older iPhone models? No. However, several initiatives must have been completed to improve this product from its inception to the end of its life cycle.
We’ve already defined these two notions; now let’s establish project and product scope.
What Do the Terms “Product Scope” and “Project Scope” Mean?
Product Scope:
The demands for the project’s product are described in the product scope. Picture an e-commerce shopping website with 1 million members, the ability to give vouchers to inactive members, the ability to support 1,000 members at once, and the ability to conduct secure transactions. These are all instances of needs that fall within the scope of the product.
So, product scope answers the question, “What is the desired end result?” Because product scope refers to the characteristics of a project’s final deliverables.
Project Scope:
Then we have the project scope, which is distinct from the product scope. This scope specifies the work that will be done in order to achieve the project’s product scope or product requirements. You must do scope management, cost management, resource management, and a variety of other tasks in order to deliver the e-commerce retail website. Project Scope encompasses all of these tasks necessary to properly achieve the project’s ultimate goals.
Examples of Product Scope and Project Scope
Let’s look at a railway station building project as an example of product and project scope. The plan is to construct a new metro station.
Product Scope includes the construction of a new metro station with four tracks, a capacity of 4,000 passengers per day, two waiting lounges, and other amenities. So, after the building project is done, the railway station will include all of these qualities.
Now, the Project Scope comprises the work required to construct a new metro station. The project scope includes, for example, material procurement, construction worker recruitment, project budget control, timetable planning, the paperwork and admin that goes along with acquiring all the appropriate permits along with many other project management operations.
For scope management, product scope and project scope are important concepts to understand. To perform an effective scope management process, a project manager must understand their definitions. With the aid of example online PMP exam questions, you may check your own understanding of the product and project scope, but for a full understanding of scope and other project management processes and procedures, we recommend an online PMP or CAPM course that will go into detail on every aspect of project management, including product and project scope.