Statements of Work

Purpose

The Statement of Work is the execution unit of delivery.

It defines exactly what we are delivering, how delivery will be governed, and how acceptance and payment will work.

Required Sections

Every Statement of Work should include:

• title

• parties

• background

• objectives

• scope

• out of scope

• deliverables

• milestones

• timeline

• roles and responsibilities

• assumptions

• dependencies

• customer responsibilities

• acceptance criteria

• payment schedule

• change control process

• IP treatment

• security requirements

• data handling requirements

• governance model

• reporting cadence

• termination consequences

• order of precedence

Scope Standard

Scope must be written clearly enough that both parties understand:

• what will be delivered

• what will not be delivered

• what inputs are needed

• what assumptions apply

• what acceptance means

• what happens if requirements change

Acceptance Standard

Each deliverable must have acceptance criteria.

Acceptance criteria should be:

• objective

• testable

• linked to the deliverable

• time-bound

• capable of evidence

• agreed before work starts

Payment Standard

Payment triggers should align to clear milestones or deliverables.

Payment should not depend on vague or uncontrolled events.