The control scope is a project management activity that monitors the status of the project. It also determines if the deliverables have met the required documents as well as managing the changes made on the project scope baseline.
When discussing this particular process, it is important to identify what scope baseline is all about. It refers to a document pertaining to the expected deliverables of the project. These documents include the scope of the statement of the project and other details of the work breakdown schedule.
The control scope involves monitoring of the status of the project as well as the product scope and managing changes. The benefit of this process is that it maintains the scope baseline during the entire project lifecycle.
If there is deviation found through control scope after comparing the current state of the project and the baseline information, the project manager needs to make a corrective plan or a preventive action. When such corrective action takes place, a change request is often raised and should be approved by the control board.
The control scope documents the changes and the customers will be informed about it. Other management plans such as the scope management plan will also be affected as the project management activity provides feedback on how the project manager will implement the approved changes. As a result, this will also provide a huge impact on the entire project life cycle. This process will also necessitate the need to update the project documents, requirement documents, and the traceability matrix.
With the control scope, it is easier for the project management team to monitor the status of the project, its scope as well as managing the changes on the scope baseline, if any difference is present.
This term is defined in the 5th edition of the PMBOK.