Why fixed-price may cost you more

In large-scale enterprise projects, “How long will it take?” is never a simple question.
The truth: most timelines fail because they ignore risk complexity. A flat 20% buffer can leave you blindsided—or overbudget.

Many organisations default to fixed-price contracts for cost certainty. But here’s the catch: fixed price fixes only the number, not the quality. Under pressure, vendors cut corners, burnout rises, and flexibility disappears.

Thomas, Fractional CTO at MISSION+, explains how Time & Materials models—when paired with tiger teams—share risk, protect quality, and adapt to change. He also breaks down a calculated approach to risk margins that turns vague guesses into credible, defensible timelines.

If your procurement or legal teams balk at T&M, this article gives you the language, the data, and the strategy to win them over.

Read the full piece to see how to align stakeholders on realistic, flexible delivery.

Managing Expectations in Large-Scale Enterprise Projects - Part 5