Opinion: We Don’t Need A Change Order For A Change This Important

SATIRE / FICTION

This is an original fictional story. The characters, organizations, events and dialogue are invented.

I want to begin by saying I value our partnership. That’s why, when I asked your crew to address the additional roof section, I assumed we could handle it together without turning it into a whole thing involving a description of what I asked for.

We all understand the situation. The area is larger, the detail is different, and the access arrangement requires additional labor. None of that changes the fact that this is still the same building. I don’t see why the paperwork should imply otherwise.

You’ve mentioned quantities. I appreciate that quantities matter to people who order materials. But from where I stand, the request was one conversation. I’d hate to see one conversation become several line items.

The urgency is precisely why we should avoid writing it down. If we stop to record what I just asked you to do, we could lose valuable time asking you to do something else.

And please don’t mistake my preference for speed as a refusal to discuss price. I’m very willing to discuss price after the work is finished, when we can both look back calmly and remember different versions of this meeting.

I also understand you’ve asked who is authorized to approve the change. That question has now reached three people, all of whom agree it is too important to wait for approval. I think that gives you a clear sense of the support behind it.

Your proposed description says the scope has changed. I would prefer “project refinement.” The work is additional, but additional sounds additional. Refinement communicates that we always meant this, once we thought of it.

We should be focused on the result rather than the process. The result I have in mind is the changed work completed immediately, with the original schedule, the original budget, and a shared understanding that we remained flexible.

Please send written confirmation that you have agreed to proceed without any further paperwork. I’ll circulate it for signatures.