International Project Management Association (IPMA) Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Achieving Certification Success!

To understand why cost is the aspect that does not belong to product scope, it is important to clarify what product scope encompasses. Product scope refers to the specific attributes, functions, and requirements that characterize a product, encompassing its features, functionalities, and characteristics.

Functionality pertains to the specific tasks or functions that a product is designed to perform, essentially defining what the product can do. Features describe the distinct components or traits that contribute to the functionality, offering details about the product's capabilities. Characteristics encompass the inherent qualities or properties of the product that guide its design and use.

In contrast, cost relates to the financial resources required to produce or deliver the product, which is considered part of project scope rather than product scope. While cost is undoubtedly an important factor in project management, it addresses the overall budget and financial performance of the project rather than the inherent qualities and scopes of the product itself. This distinction helps in understanding how to manage product development separately from financial planning and management.