The Procurement Glossary » Statement of Work (SOW)

Statement of Work (SOW)

Sourcing & RFx

Also known as: SOW

Definition

A document defining the scope, deliverables, timeline and acceptance criteria for a services engagement.

Explanation

The SOW is to services what a specification is to goods: it pins down exactly what will be done, by when, and how success is judged. A clear SOW prevents scope creep and disputes, and anchors milestone-based payment.

Example

The cleaning SOW lists areas, frequencies, response times and the KPIs that trigger service credits.

Related terms

• Specification — A precise description of what is required — the features, quality, quantity, standards and performance a supplier must meet.
• Service Level Agreement (SLA) — A contractual commitment defining the level of service a supplier must deliver, with measurable targets and consequences for missing them.
• Change Management — The structured approach to helping people adopt new processes, systems and behaviours.
• Milestone — A defined checkpoint in a project or contract, often tied to a deliverable and a payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Statement of Work (SOW)?

A document defining the scope, deliverables, timeline and acceptance criteria for a services engagement. The SOW is to services what a specification is to goods: it pins down exactly what will be done, by when, and how success is judged. A clear SOW prevents scope creep and disputes, and anchors milestone-based payment.

Can you give an example of Statement of Work (SOW)?

The cleaning SOW lists areas, frequencies, response times and the KPIs that trigger service credits.

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