The contract has a variations clause. Nobody has ever used it.

Most scope creep isn't a contract problem. It's a problem of who notices the change and who is allowed to price it, and they are rarely the same person.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The contract has a variations clause. Nobody has ever used it.

Almost every services contract, construction agreement and managed-services schedule contains a mechanism for handling change. Additional work, agreed in writing, charged at a stated rate. The clause is well drafted. It has survived legal review. And in a great many businesses, it has never once been invoked. The instinctive reading is that clients are pushing and the firm is soft. That is usually wrong, or at least incomplete. The more common explanation is structural: the person who detects a change has no authority to price it, and the person with…

Keep reading for free

Create an account to read the rest.

The whole library is free. No card, no subscription, no trial that quietly ends. An account simply lets us know who we are writing for, and opens every article from here on.

  • Every article, in full, at no cost
  • New articles published every weekday
  • Takes about twenty seconds
Create a free account I already have one

Free means free. We will not charge you for the library, and you can read as much of it as you like.

Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

More on Pricing

Scroll to Top