Executive Voice
How To Improve Your Statement Of Work With Natalie Cutajar
Improving your statement of work can have notable benefits for your business and can ensure that the scope of work and also the final delivery is clear. Natalie Cutajar is an experienced Implementation Consultant, who graduated from St. Philomena’s High School and has demonstrated a history of working in the staffing and recruiting industry. Natalie is skilled in Screening, Management, PeopleSoft, Interviewing, and Payroll and she has a strong background in information technology. Today we sit down with Natalie to discuss How To Improve Your Statement Of Work. Here are some tips to improve it and in turn reap the rewards for doing so.
Understand The Statement Of Work’s Purpose
Statements of work are common throughout most fields of industry. These documents define projects and contracts and aid in their management. The statement of work is not official but helps ease the execution of a contract by bringing the client (government contractor or buyer) into agreement about the scope of the contract with the vendor (contractor) before signing.
There are many parts of the statement. These are the most common:
- Project objectives
- Work scope definitions
- Work delivery timeline
- List of project tasks
- Details of the required payment schedule
- Outcome expectations agreed on
- Terms and conditions
- Additional requirements from both parties
A well-written statement of work can be used as a guide for developing a Master Services Agreement (MSA) or a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Clear language is vital
Once the terms and conditions have been discussed by both parties, it is time to submit a statement of work. The guidelines should be clearly laid out once the definition of what success looks like. Clear and concise language is of the utmost importance.
This goal is achieved by using nouns and verbs and by writing in the active voice. Vague or imprecise terms should be avoided because they are open to different interpretations. Future conflict can be avoided when clarity is built into your document.
Photo Credit: Natalie Cutajar
Use High Levels Of Precision To Detail Your Scope Of Work Definition
The scope of work outlines costs, timelines, goals, deliverables, and guidelines. By using Tracktime24 you can develop an accurate plan. A clear explanation of how each of these items will be achieved by the vendor must be laid out. To reach this goal, each task must be explicitly defined. List each task in the document and explain the steps toward successful completion.
Careful definition of the scope of work not only helps to achieve goals, it also protects the contractor from having to do additional work without additional compensation. This additional unpaid work is known as project creep. It costs contractors additional money and puts buyers at a disadvantage since their work may not be completed promptly due to excessive unforeseen extra work. Definitions and detailed plans of action work protect both the buyer and the seller.
Proofread Your Statement Of Work Before Submitting
To put your best foot forward, be sure to check for grammar mistakes and spelling errors before submitting your work. This is an essential step for any type of written document which should be your standard practice. Improper punctuation or the selection of incorrect words can change the meaning of your document. When meaning isn’t clear, problems can rear their ugly head when misunderstandings occur.
