Change Order and SOW Governance Kit

Scope creep is not a problem until it becomes free work. Change order governance makes scope changes billable and auditable.

This kit installs a beginner-safe operating system:

• change triggers
• approval thresholds
• standardized change order template
• escalation rules
• a weekly scope review cadence for key accounts

What you will install

1. Change trigger rules (what must become a change order)
2. Approval matrix
3. Change order template
4. Scope review cadence
5. Dispute prevention notes

Templates

A) Change trigger rules (copy/paste)

Copyable template (TEXT)
Copy
Change Order Triggers

A change order is required when:
- scope expands beyond original SOW
- timeline changes materially
- staffing changes materially
- pricing or discounts change
- deliverables or acceptance criteria change
- customer requests non-standard work

B) Change order template (copy/paste)

Copyable template (TEXT)
Copy
Change Order

Customer:
Contract/SOW reference:
Change description:
Reason:
Deliverables impacted:
Timeline impact:
Pricing impact:
Approval required:
Effective date:
Notes:

C) Weekly scope review agenda (copy/paste)

Copyable template (TEXT)
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Weekly Scope Review (15 minutes)

1) New scope change requests
2) Open changes awaiting approval
3) Work at risk (work started without change order)
4) Disputes risk and mitigation
5) Actions and owners