openscoping

Openscoping is a process and mindset for defining the scope of a project, research, or policy that emphasizes openness, transparency, and broad stakeholder participation. The approach seeks to bound work with inclusive criteria, iterative refinement, and publicly accessible scoping documents.

The term openscoping is relatively new and not yet standardized. It has emerged in discussions around participatory design and open governance as a way to prevent premature narrowing of objectives and to align diverse interests from the outset.

Typical practice includes identifying relevant stakeholders, drafting an initial broad scope, conducting workshops or surveys to gather input, agreeing on a revised scope, and publishing a scoping record. Feedback loops are maintained to adjust scope as project conditions change.

Benefits include legitimacy, alignment, and adaptability. Challenges include longer upfront effort, potential conflicts among stakeholders, and the risk of scope creep if not governed by decision rules.

Used in product development, urban planning, research programs, and public policy pilots. An example might be a city open-data initiative that invites residents to determine which datasets are prioritized, with ongoing revisions as needs evolve.

Related concepts include participatory design, open governance, and stakeholder engagement.