Definition
A scope of work is the part of a client agreement that defines exactly what a provider will deliver, how and when, and what falls outside the engagement.
In practice
For AI automation, the scope needs a few lines an ordinary project scope skips. Name each agent and its job, the accounts and data it may access, what it may do on its own and what always needs approval, the delivery cadence, and what counts as done. Then list the exclusions: new integrations, extra agents, or a rebuild after the client switches platforms. What people get wrong is scoping the build and not the running. A scope that ends at launch leaves every later fix, prompt change and model update unpriced, and that gap is where scope creep lives in an automation retainer.
Example
An agency's scope for a content repurposing retainer names one agent that drafts a LinkedIn post, an X thread and a newsletter section each week from the client's blog. It states that the agent reads the blog and drafts only, that every post needs the client's marketing lead to approve it, and that new platforms are quoted separately. When the client later asks for short video scripts, the agency points to the scope and sends a quote.
Common questions about scope of work
What should a scope of work for AI automation include?
A scope of work for AI automation should name each agent and its job, the accounts it can access, which actions need approval, the delivery cadence, how success is measured, and what is excluded. It should also cover the running after launch, such as monitoring, fixes and model changes, not just the initial build.
Is a scope of work the same as a proposal?
No. A proposal pitches the work and the price to win the client. A scope of work is the agreed definition of what will be delivered, usually attached to the contract once the client says yes. Many agencies turn the accepted proposal into the scope of work, tightening the wording as they go.
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