Who is going to pay for that ?

I was recently involved in a discussion regarding a project issue. We are trying to reach to an agreement before any kind of implementation activities can rightfully commence. The problem is not a simple one as it involves trust and commitment to deliver what is being discussed as scope. In my experience, it is actually normal to face an issue such as the one I am currently facing, two distinct parties who have not worked together before and was acquainted due to a project. It is natural for both of the parties to get to know one another and develop trust. However, it is clear to me that though it is a normal problem to have, it is not a simple problem to solve.

One of the problems at hand is that the requirement stated in the statement of work is ambiguous. It is not clear as to what level of effort will be needed to develop the solution that is requested. Logically, the solution would be to have the right people discuss the level of details needed to eliminate the ambiguity. However, the problem is that this kind of activity will require some level of effort from both parties. Who is going to fund this activity if it is done before any agreement is signed? Yes, this activity is required but the idea is to list the requirement in a very high level statement and hash out the details later as the project progresses (after agreement was signed). There is a risk for this kind of activity but the idea is to set aside the right amount of buffer to accommodate the actually effort needed.

The insight I received from this particular conversation is the fact that nothing is truly free. It may appear free to you but somebody needs to shoulder the burden. If a retailer give something for free to the customer, the cost has actually been paid by the retailer themselves. The point is somebody needs to bear the burden. It is quite similar to our sin. We may think that the impact is minimal or sometimes appear negligible but it is still a sin. Who is going to pay for that ? the answer is clear if we have accepted Christ into our life, it is Christ!