What is a Scope of Works? Mastering project management with a central data source

Sometimes we talk so much about the importance of proper project management in construction it can be repetitive, but let’s face it – having processes in place that protect against mistakes and miscommunication is key in delivering project success. Part of developing a robust process is having a centralised place where documents, tasks, variations, and reports are stored so all project members can access relevant information and track progress. That’s where a Scope of Works comes into play, but so many conversations we have start with a simple question. 

What is a Scope of Works?  

Whether you know it as a work breakdown schedule, project hub, gantt chart, schedule of works or something else, all construction projects have a plan in place that will detail the timeline of a project, the tasks that need to be completed and timescales involved. Traditionally this would be in the form of reams of paper taped to walls of site offices, then becoming a backlog of emails or text messages to keep everyone up to date.  

As technology has become more the norm than the exception though, common data environments (CDEs) have emerged as a vital tool to manage increasingly complex construction projects – and the Scope of Works is the single source of truth for this information. Everything that project members need to know about a build should be accessible in a Scope of Works; and having one can be a lot more powerful than just having things in one place. 

What is included in a Scope of Works? 

A Scope of Works includes all the details that a team needs to deliver a successful project, as well as outlining regulations, and identifying responsibilities. A project overview provides a summary of the build, with goals and tasks outlined in a predefined structure.   

A digital Scope of Works goes the extra mile by providing deeper insights on project progress and other quantifiable data. Being able to pull reports directly from a Scope of Works can save a huge amount of time that would otherwise be spent sifting through a whole lot of information across different places.  

Scope of Works in Fonn 

Fonn’s Scope of Works tool is the single source of truth that construction teams rely on to provide all data needed for smooth build projects. As the heart of every project, it acts as a roadmap for project execution and management, giving clarity and direction for the whole team. By building a strong Scope of Works for every project, teams minimise the risk of miscommunication and misunderstandings that can lead to costly errors.  

Some of the key features in Fonn’s Scope of Works include: 

• Assign project roles for whole teams 

• Update timescales and deadlines, view in a gantt chart 

• Use labels to identify items 

• Download reports directly  

• Seamless integration across desktop and mobile apps 

You’re probably already using some kind of system to manage your projects, whether that’s good old paper, or documents in the cloud through storage systems like SharePoint or DropBox. The difference with a dedicated Scope of Works though, is having a centralised source for your projects, that instills best practice as standard, helping your team work towards project goals and delivering on time, under budget, and with minimal errors.  

Want to see Scope of Works in action? Book a free demo with our team, who will show you just how powerful your project management could be.