Get your Statement Of Work Template for Word or open it in ProjectManager, the best way to manage your projects online.
Before you start any project, it is crucial to have a statement of work (SOW). It details every step of the process, from activities and deliverables to the timetable. Capture all that data in our free statement of work template for Word.
Once you’ve downloaded our free statement of work template and defined your activities, deliverables and timelines, add those elements to a project plan template in ProjectManager. Our free project plan template will help you deliver on your SOW, and has a pre-built Gantt chart, kanban board, dashboard and more to help you with your project. Plus, your team can collaborate online and report on progress along the way. Get started for free with ProjectManager and deliver a successful project.
A statement of work or SOW, is a legally binding agreement between a client and a vendor, service provider or any party executing a project. It basically defines the scope of work, and the agreed-upon conditions before the project start.
Think of the statement of work as a bucket in which to collect all pertinent items in a project. It not only highlights every aspect of the project scope such as the activities, deliverables and milestones but also defines the timetable and acceptance criteria over which the project will run and be completed.
The statement of work is the granddaddy of project documents, as it is the first you’ll create. It will show your plan and how you will execute it. Yes, it has that much detail. The more details you fill out in our SOW template, the merrier your project will be.
The making of a statement of work can be a daunting task, which is why having a SOW template to outline the phases and tasks is so important. It gives you a net to make sure you capture everything that makes up the project scope. A SOW can change depending on the industry and the specific characteristics of a project. However, our free statement of work template can help you make your own SOW format.
The first and most obvious answer to why a statement of work is important is that it’s a detailed overview of the project that defines what’s agreed upon by the client and provider involved in a project. For you as a project manager, it’s like a map that shows you the landscape in which you’ll soon be working. One of the main benefits of a detailed SOW is that it minimizes the risk of scope creep.
This Microsoft Word SOW template is a great communicative tool that can be shared with everyone associated with the project so that they’re informed. This includes your team, of course, but also outside vendors who might be contracted to help with the work. A SOW is not the same as a project charter, which is primarily targeted to stakeholders.
The statement of work is also critical for the project leader. It is the framework on which that person can lead their project to a successful end. It can help resolve or even avoid conflicts between client and provider, as there is a master document in which everyone can look back at to discern the proper course of action.
As the project unfolds, pair your statement of work with project management software that the whole team can use to manage their work and stay in sync. ProjectManager has an interactive Gantt chart with planned costs, planned effort and real-time tracking once the project begins. To avoid conflict and miscommunication, customize your security settings so team members can work on their tasks without altering the project plan. Try it for yourself with a free 30-day trial.
When preparing a statement of work (SOW), you don’t want to rush yourself. Don’t procrastinate and wait until the last minute, either. Give yourself plenty of time to get your work together, so you can review it. Make sure that by the time it’s delivered, you’ve created the best possible SOW. You’re going to need it. Below are some useful tips to fill out your statement of work template.
Writing is communication, and your writing should be simple and direct for whoever is reading the statement of work. Avoid jargon and passive tense. Use verbs and short declarative sentences. They engage the reader and make what you write easier to comprehend.
You want to include everything pertinent in this statement of work template, so it’s a good idea to add a checklist. There’s a lot of information that a SOW covers, and leaving something out can cause problems later on in the project. You can also use a work breakdown structure in conjunction with this template to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Using a SOW template jumpstarts the progress, but remember not all statement of work documents are the same. They do, however, share many foundational parts. You can download several variations of your statement of work template to speak to the different projects your organization works on to save time.
It doesn’t hurt to anticipate changes that will occur in any project when you’re drafting your statement of work. Therefore, you can develop a change request form as you’re making the statement of work. Note the type of changes that are acceptable to stakeholders and the structure you’ll use to evaluate the cost and the time related to implementing them.
Speaking of changes, you should have a list of stakeholders and people involved in the project who have the authority to approve those changes. There will be technical and legal issues, updates to the project and approval for all manner of activities. Having designated who can make those decisions beforehand means you’re going to run a more efficient project.
Finally, don’t forget to be explicit with details, such as scope, time, resources, effort, etc. If you can show what you’re talking about with imagery, do so. While it’s best to avoid jargon, sometimes you need to get technical. When you do, be sure to explain the terminology. Let others review your draft before submitting it.
As noted, a statement of work (SOW) is a very detailed document, and those details will vary depending on the type of project you’re running. However, most projects will share certain fundamental parts. Our Microsoft Word statement of work template includes all of these elements:
Begin by downloading the SOW template above. Then fill in the appropriate boxes to collect all the information about your project. If you need to add more rows, simply hit return outside the box. To add more columns, right-click on the box, select insert and choose where you want to place the extra column.
A SOW template can only take you so far when it comes to managing a successful project. While dynamic, it’s a standalone Word document that only outlines the work that will be completed. For better results, turn your SOW into a task list in excel and upload it into project management software. ProjectManager has seamless uploading of Microsoft Project, Excel and CSV documents, which are then populated into a new project, giving you access to an array of tools that help you manage more effectively.
Creating a statement of work is a big job. To make sure you do a thorough job, we have a slew of related project templates you can download. Check out our free Excel and Word templates page to give you a leg up on various aspects of project management, or just download the three we selected that can help you with your statement of work. You can use our statement of work example as a reference to create one that adjusts to your project.
To help define the scope of work and communication sections of your statement of work, use our RACI matrix template. RACI stands for responsible, accountable, consulted, informed, which means a RACI Matrix defines the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the project. Knowing who is responsible for what is the first step in understanding the scope of the project.
When defining the requirements section of your statement of work, this template is a life-saver. It is a place to collect every requirement associated with your project, including business, user and system requirements, and make them clearly understood to the stakeholder and user, including your team who has to follow these requirements.
The communication plan is one of the pillars holding up any successful statement of work. It defines what your communication objectives are, who you’re communicating with and how, including the frequency of those communications. This template helps you gather the objectives, timeframes, tools and even a means to review its effectiveness.
The statement of work document is, well, a lot of work. If you’re not ready to download our free statement of work template, that’s understandable. ProjectManager has your back. We have archived a vast library of training videos and published weekly blog posts on every aspect of project management. Here are some of the most relevant ones to help you with understanding more fully the statement of work.
ProjectManager is online project management software that can help you control every aspect of the statement of work you’ve created for the project. It helps you plan, executes and monitor progress in real-time. From kanban boards to visualize workflow to online Gantt charts that help teams collaborate in real time, use ProjectManager for your next project. Try it free with this 30-day trial.
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