What is a Statement of Work (SOW)? And what are the different types?

A Statement of Work - often abbreviated to SOW - is a detailed and structured statement of requirements. But what does that mean, and what are the different types of Statement of Work?
A Statement of Work is usually a contractual document - mostly as an appendix to the main body of the contract.
The intention behind a Statement of Work is to reduce risk through clarity and explicit expectations.
Mostly, what I describe is the most common form of a Statement of Work. It is often known as a detailed SOW, or a Design SOW.
The alternative forms are:
- Level of Effort Statement of Work
- Performance-based Statement of Work
The alternatives to the Statement of Work principle, include:
- Statements of Objectives (SOO)
- Performance Work Statements (PWS)
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Chapter Markers...
00:00 - What is a Statement of Work (SOW)
00:11 - Basic Definition of a Statement of Work
00:23 - Main components of a Statement of Work
00:40 - SOW and Contracts
01:03 - Other things a Statement of Work may include
01:50 - Why do we need an SOW?
02:06 - Creation of a Statement of Work
02:28 - SOW and Work Breakdown Structure
03:14 - Statement of Work and the Tender or Proposal Process
04:16 - Alternative forms for a Statement of Work
04:30 - Level of Effort SOW
05:10 - Statement of Objectives, Performance Work Statement
05:51 - Performance-based Statement of Work
06:27 - What really matters about a SOW?
#Project #ProjectManagement #StatementOfWork

[@Onlinepmcourses]

A Statement of Work is an important part of the contracting process. If you work a s a Project Manager, you are almost certain to encounter and SoW at some time.
Thank you for watching.
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[@alinabalyanu8057]

Thank you for your great work! 🙏Will definitely consider taking your courses😍

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Wonderful. You're so welcome!

[@BiancaMH]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You're welcome.

[@mickp10]

Thank you for your videos. What project standard are you using for the development of the SoW you are referring to? Is this a Procurement Statement of Work per the PMBoK 6th Edition? Thanks

[@Onlinepmcourses]

You are very welcome!
Unless otherwise stated, my videos are all methodology and standard agnostic. They refer to general good practice, rather than to any one system. This is so that they are useful to all project managers, no matter their background.

[@tundeade9417]

Hi Mike, is SOW same as Plan on the Page ?

[@WatEverMan2009]

No

[@Onlinepmcourses]

As I understand the term 'Plan on a Page', this is a one page plan for (in this case) your project. An SoW only covers the work to be done by a specific subset of the project resources and may exclude some elements of a full plan. A plan on a page is also likely to be a simplified planning tool - either for a small project or as a communication tool for describing the project in a simplified form. SoW on the other hand is a contractual (or quasi-contractual) document that sets out the work requirements for a specific organization, person, or group.

[@KM-un8ir]

is the same as Technical annex?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

A technical annex is an annex (addition) to a contract that covers specific technical details. It''s a very generic term that only becomes specific on context. So, the technical annex to a software procurement contract may contain interoperability specs and hosting requirements.
So, you could regard an SOW as a specific example of a technical annex, in the context of a contract for services. But the two things are not the same.

[@treyjasso]

It seems like a more detailed Scope of Work?

[@Onlinepmcourses]

That's not an unreasonable interpretation. Yet a Scope of Work can be very detailed - if articulated through a comprehensive Work Breakdown Structure.
A Statement of Work is the work one party will do and is either a commitment that they will do the work, or a requirement against which they commit to work. So, it has a contractual or quasi contractual character. It is also, usually, a part of the whole work - the Scope of Work is the whole.

[@treyjasso]

@@Onlinepmcourses Thank you sir :)

[@mikaelwaltner6976]

Very nice video. Things i think about myself a few times. The old store bought once sure did have a way to keep on living. Learned alot, greatings from Sweden 🏕

[@Onlinepmcourses]

Thanks for sharing