Opgavedefinition

Opgavedefinition is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe the formal description of a task or assignment. The word is a compound of opgave, meaning task or assignment, and definition, meaning the articulation of something's meaning or scope. In English, the closest equivalents are "task definition" or "assignment definition." A complete opgavedefinition typically states the objective, delineates scope and boundaries, lists inputs and expected outputs, specifies requirements and criteria for success, notes constraints and dependencies, identifies key stakeholders, and provides a schedule or deadline.

In education, it describes what students must accomplish, including conditions and assessment criteria. In project management and software development, it helps clarify the work to be performed, the deliverables, and the acceptance criteria. The draft is usually created by instructors, project leads, or product owners; it is refined through feedback and used to plan work, align teams, and evaluate performance.

Common benefits include improved clarity, traceability, and control of scope. Typical risks arise from vague wording, missing criteria, or evolving requirements. The term remains most common in Scandinavian contexts, but the underlying idea—clearly detailing the task, its boundaries, and success criteria—has parallels in many languages and professional disciplines.