Process Scope & Boundaries
Process scope and boundaries define what activities, decisions, and outcomes are included within a process and where responsibility begins and ends. Clear boundaries prevent gaps, overlaps, and ambiguity across the enterprise.
This page explains how scope is established for enterprise processes and how boundaries are used to distinguish between process families, governance domains, and execution layers.
Purpose
Defining process scope and boundaries ensures that processes are consistently applied, properly governed, and auditable. It clarifies accountability and prevents informal expansion or erosion of control.
Defining Process Scope
Process scope identifies the inputs, outputs, activities, and decision points that fall within a defined process. Scope is established at the process family or end-to-end process level and remains stable unless formally changed.
Establishing Boundaries
Process boundaries define interfaces between processes, process families, and governance domains. Boundaries clarify handoffs, ownership transitions, and points where additional controls or oversight may apply.
QMS and Non-QMS Boundaries
Some enterprise processes fall under the Quality Management System due to their impact on product quality, safety, or regulatory compliance. Other processes operate outside direct regulatory scope but must not bypass or undermine QMS controls.