What does a scope management plan document typically outline?

A scope management plan document is specifically designed to define and manage the project scope throughout its lifecycle. This includes detailing how the scope will be planned, controlled, and validated. By outlining processes for defining what is included and excluded in the project, the scope management plan helps ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the project boundaries. This is critical for preventing scope creep, which can occur when additional features or requirements are added without corresponding adjustments to time, cost, and resources.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of project management. For instance, project communications pertain to how information is shared among stakeholders, risk management involves identifying and mitigating potential issues, and cost management deals with the budgeting and monitoring of project finances. Each of these areas is important, but they fall outside the specific domain of scope management, which is primarily concerned with defining and controlling the project scope itself.