Linda's standard template · Work Order
Work Order
A scope-first companion to the Master Services Agreement. Make the work, owners, and decision points visible before kickoff.
Work Order no. [000]
Client
[legal name]
Provider
[legal name]
Effective date
[date]
Related MSA
[date / reference]
1. Engagement summary
[State the business problem, desired outcome, and why this work is being commissioned now. Keep this section understandable to a non-technical sponsor.]
2. Scope & deliverables
- [Deliverable or workstream 1]
- [Deliverable or workstream 2]
- [Deliverable or workstream 3]
Explicit exclusions: [list systems, activities, locations, data, or outcomes that are not included].
3. Timeline & milestones
| Milestone | Target | Owner | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| [name] | [date] | [name] | [output] |
| [name] | [date] | [name] | [output] |
4. Client responsibilities & dependencies
- Provide [access, exports, contacts, approvals, or environments] by [date].
- Maintain authorization for all agreed testing, monitoring, and administrative activity.
- Review submitted deliverables within [number] business days.
- Notify the provider of changes that could affect scope, schedule, or risk.
5. Fees & invoicing
Structure
[fixed / recurring / T&M]
Amount
[$ amount]
Invoice trigger
[date / milestone]
6. Acceptance & change control
Acceptance criteria: [define what complete means, who accepts, and the review window]. Changes to scope, timing, assumptions, or fees must be documented in writing and approved by the named contacts before work proceeds.
7. Security & data handling
List the systems, data classifications, access methods, retention period, incident contacts, and any privacy or security addendum that applies to this Work Order.
8. Approval
[Provider legal name]
Signature: ____________________
Name / title: ____________________
Date: ____________________
[Client legal name]
Signature: ____________________
Name / title: ____________________
Date: ____________________