Purpose
A statement of work explicitly states the work that is required of a supplier in unambiguous detail including a list of detailed requirements, deliverables and acceptance criteria. This sets expectations for performance and output with a supplier. The statement of work is attached to procurement artifacts and contracts.Template
A typical statement of work contains the following sections.
Purpose | Explain the strategy and goals of the project. |
Background | Give context to the project. |
Technical Environment | Details of the technical environment including platforms, infrastructure, systems and facilities that are relevant to the work. |
Scope of Work | A detailed list of functional and non-functional requirements. This may include a work breakdown structure that outlines activities, dependencies and milestones. The scope of work may also reference various requirements documents such as use cases, business rules, diagrams and mockups. |
Special Requirements | Any requirements you have that relate to the performance of the vendor such as the requirement that the vendor provide certain tools, locations and infrastructure. |
Location of Work | State the location of work and requirements that the vendor be physically present at a particular site or work offsite from their own facilities. |
Period of Performance | Any requirements you have that relate to schedule such as a business calendar and daily work schedule. |
Schedule | A project schedule or list of key dates such as due dates for deliverables. |
Standards | A list of standards and principles that must be followed such as a style guide for a user interface, quality standard or security principles. |
Deliverables | A list of everything the supplier will deliver. |
Specifications of how work will be measured, validated and accepted. This may be listed at the deliverable level and may reference details at the requirement level such as test cases. | |
Commercial Terms | Commercial terms such as the type of contract and a payment schedule. Keep in mind that a statement of work is often attached to a full contract and legal terms need not be stated in detail. The commercial terms in the statement of work typically reflect the terms required by business units and project teams. |
Statement of Work vs Statement of Objectives
A statement of work includes a detailed list of tasks, requirements, deliverables and acceptance criteria. This is used when you know exactly what work is required in advance. A statement of objectives is a similar document that specifies requirements of a supplier in terms of objectives. This is used when you don't have a specific list of requirements or tasks but will manage the vendor based on measurable objectives.| Overview: Statement Of Work | ||
Type | ||
Definition | A detailed and specific definition of the work required of a supplier. | |
Also Known As | SoW | |
Related Concepts | ||
