change order
A written agreement that adjusts scope, cost or schedule after the original contract has been signed.
Definition
A change order records an agreed modification to a statement of work. It is how a team handles new requests without arguments afterward: the change is described, the cost and timing impact are estimated, and both sides sign before work starts. Used consistently, change orders prevent scope creep and give the client clear control over budget. Without them, informal requests accumulate and either the agency absorbs unpaid effort or the client receives surprising invoices. A good habit is to attach the signed change order to the original statement of work so the full commercial picture stays in one place.
In a sentence
The client wanted two extra video cuts, so the agency issued a change order.
Work on the new feature started only after the change order was approved.
