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BOSCARD (Terms of Reference)
When looking to gain support and approval for your next project, it might be worth thinking BOSCARD.
The BOSCARD is a strategic planning tool used to provide the terms-of-reference for new projects. It is thought to have originated with consulting company Cap Gemini in the 1980's.
The acronym stands for background, objectives, scope, constraints, assumptions, risks and deliverables. These headings are commonly found in terms-of-reference and project initiation documents.
| Background | Provide background information that includes the reasons for creating the project and mentions the key stakeholders who will benefit from the project result. |
| Objectives | Describe the project goals and link each of them with related, SMART project objectives. |
| Scope | Provide a high-level description of the features and functions that characterise the product, service, or result the project is meant to deliver. |
| Constraints | Identify the specific constraints or restrictions that limit or place conditions on the project, especially those associated with project scope. |
| Assumptions | Specify all factors that are, for planning purposes, considered to be true. During the planning process these assumptions will be validated. |
| Risks | Outline the risks identified at the start of the project. Include a quick assessment of the significance of each risk and how to address them. |
| Deliverables | Define the key deliverables that the project is required to produce in order to achieve the stated objectives. |
When initiating a project it is important that all parties involved agree in considerable detail what the project is to achieve before it starts. Failure to gain formal agreement almost always leads to some expectations not being met.
The nice thing about the BOSCARD is it provides a quick way of delivering all the important project information to stakeholders, without having to complete a full Project Initiation Document.
It's a lot more digestible for busy stakeholders who may not have time to wade through a lengthy Project Initiation Document, when looking for a quick, but detailed overview of the proposed project.
Next time you're looking to gain support for a new project, think BOSCARD.
Download our free BOSCARD template.
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SMART Goals
Once you have planned your project, turn your attention to developing several goals that will enable you to be successful. Goals should be SMART - specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic and time-based.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a project. It involves specifying the objective of the project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieving that objective.
PEST Analysis
PEST is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the impact political, economic, social, and technological factors might have on a project. It involves an organisation considering the external environment before starting a project.
MoSCoW Method
When managing a project it is important to establish a clear understanding of the customers' requirements and their priority. Many projects start with the barest headline list of requirements, only to find later that the customers' needs have not been properly understood. This is where the MoSCoW prioritisation method can help.
21 Ways to Excel at Project Management
The popular project management e-book now fully updated and available as a website for the first time.
I used most of these in my teaching and also have directed my students to the website. I will be placing the links to this site and others plus resources on my own website.
God blesses!!!
Best regards,
Sanyaade