A change order (CO) is bilateral — both contractor and client agree on scope and cost before work proceeds. A Construction Change Directive (CCD) is unilateral — the client instructs the contractor to proceed with a scope change before the cost is agreed upon, typically because the change is urgent and waiting would cause unacceptable delay. Under a CCD, the contractor proceeds and the cost is determined afterward by negotiation or the contract’s dispute resolution mechanism. CCDs are appropriate for genuine emergencies; they should not be used routinely to avoid the pricing process. A contractor who regularly receives CCDs — because the client directs work before agreeing to cost — is in a situation where their cost recovery is at risk. RainFire Builders uses standard change orders on all non-emergency changes and reserves CCD-equivalent procedures for genuine urgencies where documented urgency justifies proceeding before pricing is complete.