Under the CIE Support Model, who should be responsible for clarifying the engagement scope?

Under the CIE Support Model, who should be responsible for clarifying the engagement scope?

• A. Both client and consultant collaboratively
• B. The client alone
• C. The consultant alone
• D. The project manager

Answer: (A)

Clarifying the engagement scope is a joint responsibility because it sets the boundaries, expectations, and success criteria for the work. When both client and consultant participate, the client can articulate business goals, constraints, and priorities, while the consultant can outline required data, capabilities, methodologies, and practical limits. This collaboration yields a clear engagement charter that both sides endorse, which helps prevent misalignment and scope creep later on. If the client tried to define scope alone, crucial implementation realities might be missed; if the consultant defined it alone, business priorities and constraints could be overlooked; relying only on a project manager could help coordination but wouldn’t ensure that business and solution perspectives are fully captured. So, jointly clarifying the scope best supports a realistic, agreed-upon plan.

Clarifying the engagement scope is a joint responsibility because it sets the boundaries, expectations, and success criteria for the work. When both client and consultant participate, the client can articulate business goals, constraints, and priorities, while the consultant can outline required data, capabilities, methodologies, and practical limits. This collaboration yields a clear engagement charter that both sides endorse, which helps prevent misalignment and scope creep later on. If the client tried to define scope alone, crucial implementation realities might be missed; if the consultant defined it alone, business priorities and constraints could be overlooked; relying only on a project manager could help coordination but wouldn’t ensure that business and solution perspectives are fully captured. So, jointly clarifying the scope best supports a realistic, agreed-upon plan.