Start with the business goal
Define what problem the training is supposed to solve. Is the goal compliance, software adoption, onboarding, performance improvement, safety, customer education, or certification preparation?
That goal should shape the course format, level of interaction, assessment strategy, and LMS reporting requirements.
Define the learner and the task
Describe who the learners are, what they already know, what they struggle with, and what they must be able to do after training. This is where many scopes become too vague.
A good course scope names the job behavior, not just the topic.
Gather source materials
Collect slide decks, facilitator guides, SOPs, videos, job aids, scripts, SME notes, screenshots, existing courses, brand guidelines, and policy documents. Also note which materials are current and which need review.
Source material quality directly affects timeline and budget. Approved content moves faster than rough notes.
Plan the delivery requirements
Document the LMS, SCORM or xAPI needs, accessibility expectations, translation needs, video or voiceover requirements, review rounds, launch date, and reporting expectations.
These details affect the build as much as the instructional content.