Welcome to our article about the software project scoping ideation workshop. Learn about the benefits of software scoping workshops for startups and enterprises and when to consider one for your project. This article explores the importance of evaluating your idea before diving into development. Discover how software scoping sessions can help validate your ideas, align technology and business, and minimize risks and costs.

How to evaluate the idea and turn it into a digital product?

Obviously, the best way to start is to make a plan, prepare the budget and start the work, but the complex environment we live in would suggest we first evaluate what we want and then go by baby steps.

Remind yourself of the brainstorming session you’ve had that ended up with endless discussions where each participant will try to assert their point or idea. Everyone has such talks, but what to do to facilitate the meeting when you’re not a product-building expert but an entrepreneur having an idea for changing the world?

You can find organizations that can help you with a more practical approach to defining the product backlog, evaluating development direction, and choosing the technology. With the structured agenda and facilitation, this is the best way to move forward with your vision.

Scoping or ideation workshop?

Scoping or ideation sessions are full-day workshops where all the parties discuss the details of the vision and project. It is the perfect solution when the requirements are on the general level, and the company cannot define the product backlog very precisely. They are also a great starting point for the project, to let everyone dive deeply into details and understand the objectives and product vision to develop.

The scoping session and its outcomes help to prepare a clear plan and as a result, speed up the kick-off of the product.

When to consider a software scoping workshop?

A project scoping workshop is not only a method to create requirements for the project but also an excellent way to kick off the project with all the parties – the Client, developers, designers, project managers, and other stakeholders, and allow all of the people to align with the vision, language, and objectives.

There are many different approaches to project planning depending on the type of the project and the company – e.g., startups need more discussion on user flows, vision, or objectives, while regular companies mainly discuss real user cases, existing processes, or goals related to improvements within existing teams or departments.

The difference is not significant when it comes to the workshop phases. However, there are different starting points for such discussions (more unknowns in startups and more legacies in enterprises).

Scoping sessions for startups

A scoping session is a good starting point for each startup to determine its feasibility without wasting the budget on many trials and errors. It’s a proven way to explore and validate your ideas and, more importantly, turn them into MVP or POC right after.

You might have already found a CTO and a couple of great IT guys. However, the startup initiation phase is not only about choosing the tech stack. It is a vital step to define how technology and business will work side by side.

Scoping sessions for enterprises (process digitalization project)

Enterprises are looking to leverage technology and processes and integrate digital solutions into all business areas. Transformation of legacy software and bespoke software development requires long-term investments and many resources.

A scoping workshop is the first step to defining the right strategy for the project, minimizing further risks, and making the budget predictable.

Software scoping workshop outcomes, what to expect:

  • Clear roadmap and direction for development. You will get user flows, prioritized user stories, and software requirements in the form of a general backlog with epics.
  • Identified key roles and responsibilities. Established key roles along with their responsibilities will ensure efficient work during the whole project and better communication between all the parties.
  • Cost and delivery time estimation. After the workshop, you’ll receive potential cost estimates and a suggested order of delivery.
  • Saved time and project budget. A scoping session and a clear roadmap will save your project budget and prevent you from unexpected.