What is project scope? What are constraints? Provide an example of a mandatory, external, future constraint. Also provide an example of a discretionary, internal, present constraint.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A project’s scope defines the boundaries, or extent, of the project as specifically as possible. For example, the statement, “Payroll is not being produced accurately” is too general, compared with the statement, “Overtime pay is not being calculated correctly for production workers on the second shift at the Yorktown plant.” Similarly, the statement, “The project scope is to modify the accounts receivable system” is not as specific as the statement, “The project scope is to allow customers to inquire online about account balances and recent transactions.”
A constraint, or requirement, is a condition that the system must satisfy or an outcome that the system must achieve. A constraint can involve hardware, software, time, policy, law, or cost. Constraints can be classified as present versus future, internal versus external, and mandatory versus desirable. Constraints are present or future depending on whether the constraint must be met as soon as the system is developed, or modified at some future time. Constraints are internal or external, depending on whether the constraint arises from within the organization or from an external force, such as a government regulation. Constraints are mandatory or desirable depending on whether the constraint is absolutely essential, or merely desirable.
An example of a mandatory, external, future constraint might be a government tax reporting requirement that goes into effect next year.
An example of a discretionary, internal, present constraint might be a management decision to begin work on a new system not, rather than waiting until year-end.