Change Orders & Scope Creep

Scope creep is inevitable in complex engineering and integration projects. Time Assign treats change orders with the rigor they deserve by ensuring that your original project budgets and estimates remain pristine, even as new requirements are added.

The Principle of Isolation

When a client requests additional work outside the original Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), it is critical NOT to just add hours to the existing line items or budgets. Doing so destroys your ability to measure the baseline performance of the original job.

Time Assign solves this through Change Order Isolation.

How Change Orders Work in Time Assign

1. Generate a New Change Order: Instead of modifying the base project directly, you initiate a formal Change Order within the project dashboard.
2. Create Isolated Line Items: The new Change Order requires its own distinct line items, phases, and tasks. These are clearly marked as belonging to "CO-1", "CO-2", etc.
3. Establish Separate Budgets: You must assign dedicated financial budgets and estimated hours exclusively to the Change Order line items.
4. Supersede, Don't Corrupt: The Change Order effectively supersedes the base project concerning the new scope. Your original budget vs. actuals (for the base project) remains completely clean and untouched.

Managing Time Against Change Orders

Once a Change Order is approved and active:

• Targeted Assignment: Project managers must explicitly assign team members to the new Change Order line items.
• Clear Tracking: Engineers and technicians logging their time will see the specific Change Order line items as distinct options in their time-tracking drop-downs. This ensures there is zero ambiguity about whether an hour spent was for the base contract or the new scope.
• Accurate Profitability: By isolating costs, management can instantly see the exact profitability of both the base contract and the subsequent change orders independently.

Handling scope creep efficiently is what separates profitable integrators from struggling ones. Use Time Assign's Change Order tools to protect your margins and maintain clarity on every project.