Validate Scope

Securing official sign-off from the customer or sponsor that completed deliverables meet the agreed requirements and acceptance criteria.

Key Points

  • Confirms deliverables are complete and acceptable to stakeholders, not just technically correct.
  • Uses verified deliverables, requirements, and acceptance criteria as inputs; outputs include accepted deliverables and possible change requests.
  • Typically performed at the end of phases, iterations, or major milestones.
  • Different from Control Quality (checks correctness) and Control Scope (manages scope changes).

Example

After QA verifies a report is error-free, the sponsor reviews it against the requirements and acceptance criteria. The sponsor signs an acceptance form for the report and requests changes to a dashboard that does not meet a stated requirement. This activity is Validate Scope.

PMP Example Question

During a phase gate, the sponsor signs off on three deliverables and rejects one because it fails to meet a documented acceptance criterion. Which process is being performed?

  1. Control Quality
  2. Validate Scope
  3. Control Scope
  4. Close Project or Phase

Correct Answer: B — Validate Scope (formal acceptance of completed deliverables)

Explanation: Validate Scope obtains stakeholder acceptance of completed deliverables; Control Quality checks correctness, Control Scope manages changes, and Close Project or Phase finalizes all activities.

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