SOW (Statement of Work)
A Statement of Work (SOW) is a document that defines the specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and price for a project, typically issued under a broader MSA or as a standalone contract.
In short
- Defines the specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and price for a project.
- Turns a general agreement to work together into an executable project.
- Usually issued under a broader MSA, or as a standalone contract.
- Reviewed fastest and under the most time pressure -- where risk most often slips through.
What a well-written SOW looks like
Deliverables are concrete and testable -- "a responsive e-commerce site with these 12 pages and features" rather than "a modern website." It defines acceptance criteria for each deliverable, states explicit exclusions, and includes a change-control process for new requests.
Where risk slips through
Because a SOW is usually reviewed by whoever needs the project started -- not a lawyer -- vague deliverables, missing liability caps, undefined SLAs, and unrealistic timelines commonly slip through unnoticed until a project is already underway.
How ScopeWise checks this
This is the exact document type ScopeWise is built to review: it parses a SOW, runs six specialist AI agents and a rule engine against it, and returns a risk-scored review before you sign.