A document that authorizes and instructs a change to item configuration(s)component(s), or data or document(s), in response to a change request.

COs identify all affected items and may also identify related items affected by the change. Additionally, metadata about the change is also defined, e.g. change class, requisitioned, approver, project, etc.

A CO is generally the authorizing document for a change, and identifies the responsible persons or organizations, change instructions, affected items and documents, and schedules.

When a change is authorized to be implemented on an existing item deployed for operational use, the Change Order can be described as a Modification Order (MO).

See also CHANGE REQUEST, CONFIGURATION CONTROL, CONFIGURATION ITEM, DATA, DOCUMENT, and MODIFICATION.