Building Project Scope Definition Using Project Definition Rating Index

Poor scope definition is recognized by industry practitioners as one of the leading causes of project failure, adversely affecting projects in the areas of cost, schedule, and operational characteristics. Unfortunately, many owner and contractor organizations do a poor job of adequately defining a project's scope leading to a poor design basis. A research team constituted by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) has developed the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) to address scope definition in the building sector. The PDRI for buildings is a comprehensive, weighted checklist of 64 scope definition elements presented in a score sheet format. It provides a tool for an individual or project team to objectively evaluate the status of a building project during preproject planning. This paper will discuss the PDRI development process, including input from over 100 industry professionals. Key project scope definition elements will be identified. The PDRI validation procedure, involving over 50 projects, will be discussed. A description of the potential uses of the PDRI and a summary of its benefits to the building construction industry will be outlined.