A statement of work, abbreviated as SOW, is a project management tool that describes the scope of work in terms of tasks to be undertaken, deliverables, and project timeline.
Once signed, it becomes a legally binding agreement between the signatories, which may be the client and the contractor. The document is meant to clarify the project requirements, such as tasks, timelines, deliverables, resources, etc. It is referenced throughout the project cycle to determine if work is being done as agreed. It is thus a key project management document that ensures that the project team and stakeholders understand what is included in the project scope and what is not.
The SOW can be created using a template. A template is a predesigned instrument used to illustrate the proper format and structure of a formal statement of work. As a result, it contains blank entries for all the fundamental aspects of a project that need to be described and agreed on before a project begins. These may include the project title, objectives, scope, deliverables/tasks/activities, milestones, timeline, and budget.
You can fill in the blanks as-is or modify them to suit project-specific needs. It also simplifies and shortens the document preparation process and reduces the risk of errors by ensuring consistent formatting and structuring of the SOW.
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While there are free online templates, you can create your own template via MS Word and Google Docs. Personalization lets you include unique elements you require in an SOW for your projects. Tailored templates, in turn, result in consistent and effective documentation. This is greatly useful to organizations working on multiple projects simultaneously. A reusable template will also reduce the time and effort of creating SOWs from scratch for every new project.
This article educates you on the process of creating a template for a professional statement of work by outlining how to incorporate all the fundamental elements. It also looks at the different types of templates that can be used to create an SOW for various projects and markets, such as in construction, consulting, government agencies, freelance, website development, etc.
Free Templates
How to Create a Template for the Statement of Work
A suitable template must have entries for all the information needed to produce a statement of work that provides a detailed overview of what the project entails. As such, it can be a simple or detailed document, depending on the project in question.
While the information may vary from project to project, below are the common sections you should include in your template:
Section 1: Title
The first component of the template is the title section, which captures identification information of the specific SOW. This is done by indicating your and the client’s details. Other identification details include the date and SOW number. The number is used to track the SOW among company records.
Section 2: Introduction
The next section should introduce the project in brief. The introduction is meant to identify the product or service being worked on, the parties involved, project leaders, stakeholders, etc. This may include a brief background history of the company.
Section 3: Purpose and objectives
Next, add a space in the template to specify why the project is needed and what the client aims to achieve through it. The purpose statement can be written in a few sentences. Additionally, each project can have several objectives.
Section 4: Tasks
A tasks section should be added to the template to itemize all the tasks to be undertaken by the different teams and team members. It should also enlist any tasks that you, your consultant, or your freelancer will not undertake. Tasks define the scope of the statement of work. For each task, include space for indicating the processes and resources (such as experts, hardware, and software requirements) needed. The tasks can be grouped based on their interdependencies, sequence order, and priority.
Section 5: Deliverables
The template must have an entry for recording the expected outcomes (what will be produced) of the different tasks and project phases. These may include products or services. The associated due date for each outcome must also be indicated. Note a project will typically have multiple deliverables.
Section 6: Schedule
Afterward, create the schedule section in the template, which documents the timeframes of each step or activity to be undertaken from the project initiation stage up to completion. The schedule can also be broken down into broad timeframes, such as milestones that mark significant progress points in the project cycle.
Four categories of information need to be provided in this section of a statement of work – task or project phase, start date, deadline, and task duration. These time estimates depend on the contractor’s work style, nature of work, available resources, etc.
Section 7: Location
The next item on the template is a section indicating the location where the work will be undertaken. This may be a remote or central location. This section may also state the places where different equipment and software may be utilized as well as where they will not.
Section 8: Project budget, pricing, and payment schedule
A good template must have a section to document the financial resources for the specific project. This section records the overall budget amount, itemized budget of all deliverables, and a payment plan of how the client will disburse funds. Project costs will include labor, materials, travel, permits, etc. For product deliverables, pricing is given in unit price, while for services, it is given in hourly rates. Payments can be disbursed every month, per quarter, or milestone.
Section 9: General risks, constraints, and assumptions
Next, add a section to the template to enlist any probable risks, constraints, and assumptions associated with the project. Risks are probable undesired outcomes that may influence the success of the project. Constraints are existing conditions within which work should be completed. Assumptions are predetermined circumstances or conditions expected to be true or false in order for the project to be executed exactly as planned.
Section 10: Resources
The resources section of the template records all the requirements (including products or services) needed to complete the project successfully. These may include equipment, certifications, permits, software, project management tools, etc.
Section 11: Special terms and conditions
The template should also have space for outlining any special requirements that cannot be categorized in other sections of the statement of work that have to be fulfilled. This may include security issues, review and testing plans, post-project support, industry standards, operation and maintenance plan, market guidelines, etc.
Section 12: Signatures
A complete template must have a section for you and the approving party to sign the document. The signatures should be accompanied by the company name, signatory name, and signing date.
If you find creating your own template to be laborious and time-consuming, you can download a printable one online. Online templates can then be tailored to suit the specifics of the project. Also, they are available in diverse and professional file formats to allow you to edit via different tools such as MS Word or Google Docs. Word has advanced features and multiple formatting options, while Google Docs enables you to collaborate and access the SOW remotely.
Types of Statement of Work Templates
Templates can be designed for specific types of projects to capture SOW elements that are market or industry-specific and project-specific. Below are several templates you may interact with based on the nature of the project you oversee:
Project management statement of work template
A project management type of template is simple and generic and is developed to document the fundamental components of a project SOW. Its basic sections include project scope, objectives, deliverables, timeline, and budget. Project managers overseeing private and government projects use it to communicate with stakeholders and team members, their roles and responsibilities, project risks, and activities.
Consulting statement of work template
Such a template is premade for consultants to document what a consulting project entails. It has sections for deliverables, methodology, client’s goals, consultant’s expertise, timeline, and consulting fees, and payment schedule. The resulting statement of work acts as a roadmap for consultant-client engagement.
Software development statement of work template
SOWs are also common in the IT sector. In software development, the associated template will help you define the project’s scope, objectives, execution methodology, software architecture, timeline, and testing and debugging procedures. Such a template should prompt you to clarify other terms and conditions, such as charges and intellectual property rights handling protocols.
Website design statement of work template
This type of template is designed to outline the statement of work for a website design project. It contains sections for the project scope, objectives, deliverables, budget, payment schedule, and timeline. The scope includes the website design methodology, testing procedures, and protocol for intellectual property rights. Deliverables may include the website architecture.
Statement of work template for construction services
Such a template for a statement of work is meant to document the objectives, timeline, and budget for a construction project. It also documents the materials, equipment, and safety procedures needed for the project. It can be used for construction projects such as commercial and residential buildings, government infrastructure projects, etc.
Professional video production statement of work template
This template is predesigned for videographers and video production companies who must write an SOW for production projects. It has sections for documenting the tasks and deliverables (video length, number of videos, style, and theme). Additionally, it records the project timeline, budget, and equipment needed.
Freelance statement of work template
Such a template for creating a statement of work is targeted for freelance projects. It will have entries to record the expected tasks, deliverable schedules, milestones, billing information, and acceptance criteria. Billing will typically be at hourly rates. This simple template may suit different freelancers, including photographers, subject matter experts, editors, etc.
Common Pitfalls in Creating a Statement of Work Template
A template of a statement of work is helpful for effective management and communication when executing a project. However, there are undeniable aspects you need to take caution of to avoid developing a template that does not benefit your project management role.
These include:
- A template that creates a vague statement of work and does not specify scope, deliverables, due dates, and requirements can easily result in unsuccessful projects. Additionally, this may result in poor-quality products and services, delays, disputes among team members, and financial losses may characterize it.
- When a template generates a statement of work that is too detailed, it may bloat the project scope and cause the team to do more than is necessary. This may overwhelm the team and client and can be time-consuming, resulting in delays.
- A template that does not prompt you to define the project shareholder’s expectations clearly may result in misunderstandings within the team and delays in project execution. Therefore, a suitable template should have sections to define the deliverables, specific requirements, and standards that the project must meet.
- If you do not include a communication plan section in the template, crucial information may fail to reach the required team members and stakeholders. This results in miscommunication and confusion as stakeholders and members will not be informed and updated on time, leading to slow and poor decision-making. A suitable template will document the right channels and frequency of the communication plan to be used throughout the project execution.
- A good template must comply with any contractual terms and conditions as well as the applicable laws. This element is meant to protect both parties legally and is considered professional practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An SOW defines the work to be done, which includes tasks, expected outcomes, products or services to be delivered, and a timeline. A contract, also known as a master service agreement (MSA), defines the terms and conditions agreed upon by you and your client to avoid exploitation.
It should be prepared before the project commences. This way, parties can understand their roles and responsibilities, and the document can then be referenced throughout the project cycle.
Yes. Once signed, it can be considered legally binding as its contents have to be agreed upon by the two signatories. If any party fails to meet their obligations, they may be held liable for any ensuing loss, and the statement of work can be referenced as viable evidence.
The template does not have to outline any project status reports, risk mitigation plans, project expenditures, and lessons learned.