International Project Management Association (IPMA) Practice Exam

Which of the following does not describe an aspect of project scope?

1. Cost

2. Functionality

3. Features

4. Characteristics

The correct answer is: Cost

In project management, the scope of a project is essentially the detailed delineation of what is included and excluded in the project. It primarily pertains to the work required to deliver a product or service that meets specific requirements. Cost, while critical to project management, is generally regarded as a constraint rather than an aspect of project scope. It refers to the budget allocated for the project, and although it may influence decisions related to scope, it does not directly define what the project is intended to deliver. Instead, scope focuses on the functionalities, features, and characteristics of the project's outputs. All these elements outline what is to be achieved and define the project’s deliverables. Functionality pertains to how the product or service will function to meet project requirements, features are the distinguishing attributes or functionalities that the product will offer, and characteristics describe the inherent qualities or attributes of the output. Collectively, these components form an integral part of defining the project scope. Therefore, recognizing that cost represents a limitation rather than a defining aspect of scope clarifies why it does not belong in the same category.