Just getting started on your project management journey? Hive has you covered. As a project management and collaboration tool, we’ve seen many, many simple projects come and go through Hive.

We’ve boiled down those insights and feedback we’ve received to create a scope of work template built for teams of all sizes and workflows.

Accessing Hive’s Scope of work template

Use this template to understand some of the basic functionality in Hive, how projects can be laid out, how goal-setting and collaboration can take place in Hive and align with the overall project planning process. Even if you’ve never worked with a project management tool before, this is the first step to get you set up in Hive correctly.

If you don’t have an existing Hive account, you’ll need to visit this link and create your Hive workspace. From there, templates will be available to use when you create a project, or from the blue “?” in the upper right corner of your workspace. Just click on “Template Library” to navigate to our pre-saved project template list.

What is a scope of work?

A scope of work (SOW) is a document that defines and outlines the specific tasks, deliverables, and timeline of a project or work assignment. It provides a clear understanding of the objectives, responsibilities, and expectations of both parties involved in the project, such as the client and the contractor or service provider.

The scope of work helps ensure that all parties have a common understanding of the project’s boundaries and the work that needs to be completed. It typically includes details such as project objectives, deliverables, project timeline, resources required, and any specific requirements or constraints.

This helps avoid any confusion or misunderstandings throughout the project, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. The scope of work also helps in managing expectations, as it establishes boundaries and limitations of what will and will not be included in the project. It can be used by many different teams, even as a software development scope of work template or free construction scope of work template, to provide a basis to assess and manage any changes or additions that may arise during the project.

What is a scope of work template?

A scope of work document outlines the specific tasks, deliverables, and timelines for a project or contract. It serves as a roadmap for both the client and the contractor, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding the project objectives and expectations.

Whether it be a software scope of work template, a web design scope of work template, a website scope of work template, or a consulting scope of work template, it will typically include sections such as project overview, objectives, deliverables, timeline, budget, and terms and conditions. By providing a clear and detailed outline of the project requirements, a template helps eliminate any misunderstandings or miscommunications between the client and the contractor.

Why do you need a scope of work?

One of the main advantages of using a scope of work template is that it saves time and effort. Instead of starting from scratch for every project, a contractor can simply use a pre-designed template and customize it according to the specific requirements of the current project. This not only reduces the time spent on drafting a new SOW but also ensures consistency across different projects.

Moreover, a well-written scope of work template helps clarify the project objectives and expectations. It clearly defines what needs to be done, how it should be done, and what the final deliverables should look like. This helps prevent scope creep, where additional tasks are added to the project without proper approval or budget allocation.

Furthermore, a scope of work template can be used as a reference tool throughout the project. It serves as a handy guide for the contractor, enabling them to track their progress, identify any gaps or risks, and make necessary adjustments as needed. It also serves as a benchmark for evaluating the project’s success or failure, as it clearly outlines the expected outcomes and deliverables.

In conclusion, a scope of work template is a valuable tool for effectively managing projects and contracts. It saves time, clarifies expectations, establishes benchmarks, and promotes transparency and fairness. By using a standardized and customizable template, contractors can streamline their project management process, enhance client satisfaction, and achieve successful project outcomes.

Overall, a well-defined scope of work is essential for effective project planning, communication, and successful project execution. There are many different ways to create a scope of work template, the most basic would be a Microsoft Word scope of work template, but Hive’s template will help you set and track work progress over time.

How we’ve set up the template

With this project management scope of work template, we’ve opted for Table View to show clearly the status, title, and assignees for each task in the project. The key Deliverables task has several subactions, which are meant to define all individual deliverables needed to achieve success with the project.

This scope of work template is designed to help you:

• Define and execute successfully on a project
• Keep teammates informed and aligned on their responsibilities
• Collaborate easily around existing initiatives and projects
• Understand progress from a birds-eye-view

Identification of Budget & Financial Overview as well as team Roles & responsibilities are also separate action cards to be addressed.

Labels are added in the Label column to define additional timeline factors and components of the actions, and can be used to help sort and filter project tasks.

When individual actions are opened up, you’ll be able to add:

• Action description
• Subactions
• Due date
• Priority level
• Status
• Custom fields

If you click into each individual Deliverable subaction, you’ll be able to edit the specific activities from another action card. All changes and additions will be kept under that nested task, which makes it easy to refer back to and edit when needed.

Once you kick off a project from this scope of work template example, you’ll be able to edit all of the tasks, subtasks, due dates, and assignees to fit your specific workflow. If it’s easier, you can just use the template as inspiration or a starting point, and create a separate project based on the part of the template that works for you. You can also integrate other tools you know and love with Hive Apps into this template.

Why Hive Templates?

We have over 100 templates living in Hive right now that can be accessed to help you kick-start your projects, including this scope of work template.

Templates are extremely valuable in project management tools like Hive for several reasons. Templates provide a standardized format that ensures consistency across all projects. This consistency makes it easier for project managers and team members to locate and understand information, improving their overall effectiveness.

Time Savings

They also save time and effort by offering a pre-designed structure for various project artifacts such as project plans, status reports, and risk registers. Instead of starting from scratch each time, project managers can simply customize the template to fit the specific needs of their project. This efficiency allows them to allocate more time to other critical project tasks.

Knowledge Sharing

Furthermore, templates serve as a valuable tool for knowledge sharing and collaboration within a team. By using templates, project members have a common understanding of how data should be presented, making it easier for everyone to contribute effectively. Additionally, templates provide a clear framework for communication, ensuring that all stakeholders receive consistent and concise information.

Utilize proven methodologies

Templates also promote best practices and standardization within an organization. By using templates that align with industry standards, project managers can implement proven methodologies and approaches, leading to better project outcomes.

Stick with organization processes

Having templatized projects ready to go also helps teams incorporate lessons learned from previous projects, enabling project teams to avoid common mistakes and improve processes. This ensures that organizations leverage their collective knowledge and experience to deliver successful projects consistently.

Overall, templates are an essential component of project management as they enhance efficiency, foster collaboration, promote standardization, and support knowledge sharing. By providing a consistent structure and approach, templates contribute to the overall success of projects and help project managers deliver high-quality results, on time and within budget.

Learn more about Hive

Want to learn more about Hive? We’ve got you covered. Hive University is a great place to start, as are our weekly demos and webinars, which you can learn more about here.

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To access this template, visit the blue “?” in the upper right corner of your workspace. Click “Template Library” and choose your desired template from the drop down.