---
title: "Statement of work"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:statement-of-work"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/statement-of-work
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Statement of work

ICT Project Management · Chapter 7: Project Integration Management

- Asked in: year not given
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/statement-of-work
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-7

## Question

What do you mean by statement of work?

## Short answer

The statement of work (SOW) is a narrative description of the products, services, or results to be delivered. It outlines the business need, product scope, strategic alignment, schedule, and acceptance criteria, serving as input to the project charter and contracts.

## Answer

A **statement of work (SOW)** is a narrative description of the products, services or results to be delivered by a project. It is a key input to the project charter and is usually prepared by the customer or sponsor, or by the performing organisation for an internal project. For external contracts, it is part of the bid document and forms the basis of the contract.

#### Information in a SOW
1. **Business need**: the problem or opportunity that justifies the work, based on market demand, technological advance, legal requirement or customer request.
2. **Product scope description**: characteristics of the product or service and its relationship with the business need.
3. **Strategic plan**: how the project fits the organisation's strategy.
4. **Scope of work**: what the supplier will and will not do; deliverables.
5. **Location** of work and performance period.
6. **Schedule and milestones**; **payment terms**.
7. **Acceptance criteria** and **standards** to be followed.
8. **Resources / tools** to be provided by the customer.
9. **Special requirements**, such as travel, security or working hours.

```text
Customer need --> SOW --> Bid / Contract
                    |
                    +--> Project Charter
```

#### Importance
- Gives a clear shared understanding between customer and supplier.
- Basis for estimating and for evaluating proposals.
- Helps avoid scope disputes during the project.
- Used later in procurement management as the procurement SOW.

#### Qualities of a good SOW
Clear, complete, concise, measurable and verifiable.

**Example:** SOW for a school website: develop a 20-page bilingual website with a content management system, provide hosting for one year, train 3 staff, deliver within 90 days, and accept after 2 weeks of testing.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is a statement of work?
   A. A narrative description of products, services or results to be delivered
   B. A list of team members' salaries
   C. A schedule of daily tasks
   D. A record of project defects
   Answer: A. The SOW is a narrative description of what the project will deliver. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which three items form the information on the need behind the SOW?
   A. Risk register, WBS, budget
   B. Business need, product scope description, strategic plan
   C. Lessons learned, templates, policies
   D. Change log, issue log, defect log
   Answer: B. The SOW covers business need, product scope description and strategic plan, besides scope, schedule, payment and acceptance. (Key point: Contents)

3. How is the SOW used?
   A. Only after project closure
   B. Only for internal training
   C. As an input to the charter and base of a contract for external work
   D. To replace the WBS
   Answer: C. It is a key charter input and, for external projects, part of the bid document and contract. (Key point: Relation to charter and contract)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Work breakdown structure (WBS)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Awork-breakdown-structure) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Contingencies and work charged establishment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Acontingency-work-charged) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 3, asked 4×
- [Masonry work, materials for 20 cum brickwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abrickwork-20cum-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Contour interpolation, method for large work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Acontour-interpolation-methods-large-work) — Surveying II, chapter 4
- [Work breakdown for frame structure quantities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Awork-breakdown-quantity-frame) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 2