Sunday, January 5, 2020
After a Good Kickoff: Keeping Project Scope in Check
Updated September 2026: in 2020 I wrote about setting up a kickoff call with an onsite team and an offshore lead I had struggled with before, feeling relieved afterwards, and then wondering whether the work would stay simple. I have rewritten it as a guide to keeping scope under control after a good kickoff.
I was back with the same onsite team and the same offshore delivery lead whose way of working had caused problems before. I owned setting up the call. It began with introductions and the service request details, and afterwards I felt relieved: I already had most of the standard slides, and only a few needed rebuilding. Until the next day's call, I only had to gather slides from the repository and leave blank ones for the onsite team. I still wondered whether it would stay simple or grow every day with new client requirements. As usual, my expectations changed in the calls that followed.
Why does scope grow after a kickoff?
Kickoff calls cover the known requirements. The unknown ones arrive later, as the client answers questions, the onsite team talks to the account and people spot gaps. Each addition seems small, so nobody stops to check the total.
What should you send right after the kickoff?
- A short summary of what was agreed, in plain words.
- A slide list showing which exist, which need rebuilding and who fills each blank one.
- Owners and dates for every open item.
- A line on change: new requirements will be added to the list and may move dates.
How do you handle new requirements as they arrive?
Add each one to the list you sent, with its owner and effect on the timeline. Share the updated list at the next call. When people can see the list growing, they are more willing to drop low-value items or extend the deadline.
What if you have a difficult history with someone on the team?
Start fresh but write things down. Clear owners and dates in writing reduce the room for the misunderstandings that caused trouble last time. Keep the tone neutral and focus on the work.
Is relief after a kickoff a bad sign?
No. It usually means you are well prepared. Just treat the first plan as a draft and check it against each new request.