Assumptions and dependencies

A section of a scope document listing the conditions a project's timeline and pricing rely on — such as timely client feedback or access to third-party systems — and what happens if they aren't met.

Example

A website rebuild SOW lists an assumption: "Client provides final copy within 5 business days of kickoff." When copy arrives three weeks late, the agency points to this clause to justify a revised timeline rather than absorbing the delay silently.

Why it matters for agencies

Assumptions and dependencies are what let an agency defend a timeline slip or scope adjustment that was actually caused by the client, not the agency. Without them written down, a late deliverable on the client's side quietly becomes the agency's problem to solve for free.