_____ Management mitigates disputes before they become bigger problems.

_____ Management mitigates disputes before they become bigger problems.

• A. Risk
• B. Trend
• C. Quality
• D. Cost

Answer: (D)

Keeping costs under control and openly communicating cost impacts prevents disagreements from spiraling. When a project has a solid cost management process—establishing a budget baseline, continuously tracking expenditures, and enforcing a formal change-control process—any potential overages or scope changes are identified early. That early visibility lets the team discuss alternatives, adjust scope, or reallocate resources before discussions turn into formal disputes. In design-build, where design and construction decisions are made with cost in mind from the start, cost feedback can steer choices toward affordable, workable solutions and keep stakeholders aligned on financial realities. While risk and quality matter, cost management most directly reduces the financial friction that commonly triggers disputes, making it the strongest preventive measure.

Keeping costs under control and openly communicating cost impacts prevents disagreements from spiraling. When a project has a solid cost management process—establishing a budget baseline, continuously tracking expenditures, and enforcing a formal change-control process—any potential overages or scope changes are identified early. That early visibility lets the team discuss alternatives, adjust scope, or reallocate resources before discussions turn into formal disputes. In design-build, where design and construction decisions are made with cost in mind from the start, cost feedback can steer choices toward affordable, workable solutions and keep stakeholders aligned on financial realities. While risk and quality matter, cost management most directly reduces the financial friction that commonly triggers disputes, making it the strongest preventive measure.