How might a change order abuse typically be recognized during a contract period?

Recognizing change order abuse during a contract period often involves a careful examination of the change orders themselves. Change orders that add unnecessary expenses can signal potential fraud or mismanagement. This is because legitimate change orders should correspond to necessary alterations in the scope of work due to unforeseen circumstances or requirements that arise during the project.

When change orders consistently introduce additional costs without clear justification or legitimate need, it raises red flags. This careful scrutiny allows for the identification of patterns that suggest abuse, such as recurring changes that appear to inflate costs for the benefit of contractors or vendors rather than for the intended purpose of the project.

The other options do not directly address the identification of change order abuse. Increasing marketing efforts does not relate to the oversight of contractual financial dealings, while decreasing the scope of work can sometimes be a legitimate practice rather than an indication of abuse. Finalizing contract audits, while important, typically occurs after a project is completed and may not effectively catch abuse throughout the contract's duration as closely as monitoring change orders does.