When this matters
The supplier’s latest forecast is above the agreed budget. Some changes were approved, others were discussed informally and some work was reopened. The buyer needs a shared change history before deciding how to proceed.
Evidence to bring
- The original scope and budget, change approvals and their effective dates.
- Supplier spend inputs and work records for the same engagement and period.
- Reopened items, changed acceptance criteria and supporting discussion or approval records.
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How to work through it
- Establish the original commercial baseline and the review period. Separate original scope from later commitments.
- Trace changed work and cost inputs to the available source records. Keep approval status separate from evidence that work occurred.
- Reconcile the supported changes and unresolved amounts with the supplier. Record assumptions and missing records in the review.
An illustrative review
Example figures for illustration.
| Recorded evidence or stated assumption | What it supports |
|---|---|
| A fictional engagement has a $50,000 baseline and a $65,000 forecast. | A $15,000 forecast difference to investigate. |
| $8,000 relates to approved additions and $3,000 to unapproved requests. | Separate agreed changes from work requiring a commercial decision. |
| The remaining $4,000 has no supporting breakdown. | An unresolved amount, not a proven overcharge or a zero cost. |
The next decision
Agree which changes enter the next baseline, which need evidence and what scope or budget the next period should use. Keep an explicit record of approval.
What the evidence cannot tell you
A forecast is not an invoice or actual spend. Evidence that work happened does not establish approval, and ScopeWorth does not resolve contractual disputes or automatically authorise payment.
AI analysis in ScopeWorth is optional and billed in credits. Evidence, cost attribution and reports work without it. Compare plans and limits.
Questions about this workflow
Can I distinguish approved changes from work already done?
Use the approval record and delivery record separately. Work can occur before approval; that discrepancy needs a buyer–supplier decision.
What if the supplier cannot provide a complete breakdown?
Keep the unsupported amount and data coverage explicit. Request the missing evidence rather than inferring its cause or treating it as zero.