Statement of Work
Project managers and other professionals routinely write a Statement of Work (SOW)
prior to start of any project. A SOW represents a formal document that defines the
purpose, scope, work activities, responsibilities, and timeline of a project.
The reason for requiring you to write a SOW is to have you organize your ideas on
‘paper’ (with the inclusion of a timeline) to make sure that the project and its associated
deliverables are clearly outlined for the entire team. Creating a SOW is also an excellent
opportunity for you to showcase to a future employer, professor, and/or graduate school
supervisor your ability to generate, implement, and execute a project within a specified
time period.
Your SOW will get posted in a presentation created specifically for MacEngaged on an eplatform called the Learning Portfolio (LP). The LP is available through Avenue to Learn
at McMaster University. It provides students to the opportunity to showcase their goals,
learning objectives, and achievements during their undergraduate career. It is a great
venue to demonstrate to others (even those that are outside of the university) your
successes in one location and can be a great asset when incorporated into a résumé or
curriculum vitae.
Do remember that you are creating this document for a professional audience.
Accordingly, you are encouraged to use formal language.
Guidelines for creating a SOW
** Page limit (Word Doc): Roughly 3-5 pages of written words (but no more than 5
pages). Single-space within a section but with additional space between each section (as
in this instructional document).
You are encouraged to be as creative as possible and use diagrams, pictures, tables, and
flow charts where possible. These can be placed in an appendix to enhance organization.
Any content placed in an appendix will not count towards the page limit.
Title: In a few words and in the form of a title, clearly summarize your project. As in a
book, the title should get the picture across rapidly. Also include your Team Name in
this section.
Background: Before you begin, read Forward with Integrity (Deane, 2011).
Think about the bigger picture: this could include a short description of MacEngaged
and Forward with Integrity: its mission, background, culture of the university, culture of
the class, etc. Demonstrate how your project is related to the letter Forward with
Integrity.
Description & Scope: Describe the project and your target audience.
In your description, also explain the originality and creativity of your work and whether
you are collaborating with another set of individuals, organizations, campus clubs, etc. to
deliver your project. Be as specific, detailed, and clear as possible!
Tasks & Timeline: Identify all the tasks to be performed by each member of your group.
This should include a detailed description of what is to be accomplished, the
methodology to be used, and the sequence in which the work is to be done and the
responsibilities each member will undertake to complete the task. Identify each phase of
the project, start to completion with anticipated dates and timing.
Content: You will use a minimum of 5 primary, peer-reviewed empirical papers in
creating your deliverable content. You may use textbooks if you wish but only for basic
definitions that cannot be located elsewhere. Provide a list of your references (using
APA format) and how each reference will add value to the content delivered in your
project. That is, provide a description of the information and clearly explain how it will
be used in your project.
Travel & Dates: Where applicable, provide as much information as possible regarding
any necessary travel (and associated dates) that will be required in order to perform the
work.
Location of Work: Identify when and where the project will be implemented.
Social Impact: Create a definition of community-engaged education and describe how
your group has embodied this definition through your (specific) project. Be sure to
explain how your definition of community-engaged education ties back to the letter
Forward with Integrity.