Costing & Scoping

What is the difference between Costing and Scoping?

Costing and scoping are both important steps in the project management process, but they have different purposes and outcomes.

Costing is the process of estimating the (financial) resources that will be required to complete a project. It involves identifying all of the costs associated with the project, such as materials, labor, and equipment, and estimating the total cost of the project. The goal of costing is to determine the project budget and ensure that it is feasible within the available resources.

Scoping, on the other hand, is the process of defining the project's objectives and the work that needs to be done in order to achieve those objectives. It involves breaking down the project into smaller, manageable tasks and identifying the resources that will be required to complete each task. The goal of scoping is to define the project's deliverables and ensure that they are achievable within the available resources.

In summary, both costing and scoping are important steps in the software development process, but they serve different purposes. Costing is focused on determining the financial resources required to complete the project, while scoping is focused on defining the project's objectives and identifying the work required to achieve them. Both processes should be regularly reviewed and updated as needed to ensure that the project stays on track and that the final product meets the stakeholders' needs.

What is the difference between costing and scoping in Software world?

In the software development world, the difference between costing and scoping is similar to what I mentioned in the previous answer, but with a few specific nuances.

Costing in software development involves identifying and estimating the resources required to build and maintain a software product. This includes costs for development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance and support. Additionally, when it comes to software development, costing also includes the estimation of the time required for the development process.

Scoping in software development is the process of defining and outlining the requirements of the software product. It involves identifying the specific features and functions that the software should have, and determining the resources required to build them. This includes understanding the stakeholders' needs, the technical constraints, and the project's goals and objectives. Scoping is often done in collaboration with the stakeholders and it's an iterative process that helps to refine the requirements and align them with the project's budget and timelines.

In summary, costing in the software development world is mainly focused on determining the cost and time required to build and maintain a software product, while scoping is focused on defining the requirements and outlining the specific features and functions that the software should have. Both are important steps in the software development process as they help to ensure that the project is feasible and that the final product will meet the stakeholders' needs.

Examples of costing in software development:

Estimating the number of development hours required to build a new feature for a mobile application
Identifying and pricing the cost of third-party libraries or APIs that will be used in the software
Estimating the cost of testing, including manual testing and automation
Calculating the cost of deploying and hosting the software on various platforms
Estimating the cost of ongoing maintenance and support for the software product

Examples of scoping in software development:

Outlining the specific features that a new software product should have, such as the ability to perform a specific task or integrate with other systems
Identifying the stakeholders and their specific needs and requirements for the software
Determining the technical constraints and limitations of the software, such as platform compatibility or performance requirements
Creating a detailed project plan and outlining the tasks and milestones required to build the software
Regularly reviewing and revising the scope throughout the development process to ensure that the final product meets the stakeholders' needs and aligns with the project's budget and timelines.

Here is a checklist of tasks that could be performed when costing a software program:

Identify all of the resources required to build and maintain the software, such as development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance and support.
Estimate the number of development hours required to build the software.
Identify and price the cost of third-party libraries or APIs that will be used in the software.
Estimate the cost of testing, including manual testing and automation.
Calculate the cost of deploying and hosting the software on various platforms.
Estimate the cost of ongoing maintenance and support for the software product.
Identify any additional costs, such as licenses or hardware costs.
Create a detailed project budget and ensure that it is feasible within the available resources.

Here is a checklist of tasks that could be performed when scoping a software program:

Identify the stakeholders and their specific needs and requirements for the software.
Outline the specific features and functions that the software should have.
Determine the technical constraints and limitations of the software, such as platform compatibility or performance requirements.
Create a detailed project plan and outlining the tasks and milestones required to build the software.
Regularly review and revise the scope throughout the development process to ensure that the final product meets the stakeholders' needs and aligns with the project's budget and timelines.
Define the acceptance criteria and testing methods for each feature
Define the deliverables, timelines, and milestones of the project
Gather feedback from stakeholders and integrate it into the scoping process.
Identify any dependencies or risks that may impact the project.

It's important to note that these checklists may vary depending on the type of software development project and the specific requirements of the stakeholders. However, these tasks are generally considered as important steps when it comes to costing and scoping a software program.

What should be outcome of Software program costing?

The end result of software program costing should be a detailed and accurate estimate of the financial resources that will be required to complete the project. This includes all of the costs associated with the project, such as development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance and support. Additionally, the end result of software program costing should also include the estimation of the time required for the development process.

The end result of software program costing should be presented in a clear and concise format, such as a budget or project plan, that can be easily understood by all stakeholders. It should also be accompanied by detailed explanations and justification for the costs, including any assumptions or estimates that were made.

Once the costing is done, it should be regularly reviewed and updated as needed, especially if there are any changes to the project scope or requirements. This will help to ensure that the project stays within budget and that the final product meets the stakeholders' needs.

In summary, the end result of software program costing should be a comprehensive and accurate estimate of the financial resources required to complete the project, presented in a clear and concise format, and regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

What should be outcome of Software program Scoping?

The outcome of software program scoping should be a clear and detailed definition of the project's objectives, deliverables, and the work required to achieve them. This includes:

A clear understanding of the stakeholders' needs and requirements for the software
A detailed list of features and functionalities that the software should have
A project plan outlining the tasks and milestones required to build the software
A detailed scope document that defines the acceptance criteria, testing methods, and the deliverables of the project.
A list of dependencies and risks that may impact the project
A clear understanding of the technical constraints and limitations of the software, such as platform compatibility or performance requirements

The outcome of software program scoping should be presented in a clear and concise format that can be easily understood by all stakeholders. It should also be accompanied by detailed explanations and justification for the scope and any assumptions or estimates that were made.

Once the scoping is done, it should be regularly reviewed and updated as needed, especially if there are any changes to the project scope or requirements. This will help to ensure that the project stays aligned with the stakeholders' needs and the final product meets the project's goals and objectives.

In summary, the outcome of software program scoping should be a comprehensive and accurate definition of the project's objectives, deliverables, and the work required to achieve them, presented in a clear and concise format, and regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

FAQ 5: FAQ