- May 3, 2022
- Gulfstream Legal
A statement of work is fundamental to the success of any eDiscovery project. A good statement of work will actually improve your eDiscovery, because it sets the tone for the entire project, starting at its inception. It is a tool that helps all parties understand:
- Processes
- Role of the Project Manager
- Integration Management
- Scope, Schedule, and Cost Management
- Resources
- Communication
- Risk Management
- Stakeholders
A good SOW will house all the information required for a Project Manager, OR a Stakeholder, to facilitate the requirements of their role in a project. A bad SOW will house the bare minimum information and require extra time to gather and document the information as the project progresses.
Here are the key elements of a SOW that will help improve your eDiscovery project:
- Project objectives. This section covers the purpose of the project and what you hope to achieve.
- Scope of work. This section states what work needs to be completed, how it will be done, and how much time it will take.
- Place & time of execution. This section is especially important if you have data stored in global locations and/or different time zones. It identifies where the project will take place.
- Milestones. This section defines expected progress and is important for very long eDiscovery projects.
- Tasks. This section lays out the activities that need to happen to achieve milestones.
- Schedule. The timeline includes milestones, tasks, and resources throughout the project’s lifecycle.
- Deliverables. This section quantifies what is due and when it is due.
- Expected outcomes. This section defines what success will look like when the project is complete.
- Special terms, conditions, and requirements. This section will include payment terms and other parts of the project that don’t fit into other categories.
- Closure. This defines how the deliverables will be accepted, and who will deliver, review and sign off on them.
When is the best time to start making a statement of work? Ideally, it should start to be drafted when you and your vendor start exploring your business needs. A draft outline should be started after the discovery call or meeting and revised with more detail as you learn more. If your current vendor is not providing you with a SOW that will improve your eDiscovery project, make sure to ask them for more information similar to what is suggested here in the next SOW they provide.