Portfolio research and capital planning · Field guide · October 9, 2026
Bridge planned and actual property capital
A capital bridge explains how the original approved budget became the actual amount funded. Separate scope additions, price changes, timing changes and reserves still held. Keep cash paid distinct from unpaid commitments and avoid interpreting a higher capital contribution as an accounting classification.
Evidence to assemble
Gather the source records before completing the worksheet. A missing record should remain an open question. Keep the original alongside any summary so the next person can trace the decision.
| Input | Record with it |
|---|---|
| Original approved budget | Record the source, document date, reviewer and unresolved question. |
| Final settlement figures | Record the source, document date, reviewer and unresolved question. |
| Project invoices and credits | Record the source, document date, reviewer and unresolved question. |
| Remaining commitments | Record the source, document date, reviewer and unresolved question. |
Work through the decision
- Keep the original baseline.
- Group changes by documented cause.
- Reconcile cash paid and unpaid commitments.
- Explain reserve transfers separately.
For each action, name the person responsible for preparing the response and the person who approves it. Record what evidence would close the item. If new information changes cost, timing or scope, update the affected plan and identify who needs the revised version.
Common failure to avoid
Do not reduce the budget variance by dropping an unpaid obligation. The bridge should show both the payment position and the total commitment.
Worked example
An illustrative project starts with a $60,000 launch budget, adds an approved $4,000 scope change and receives a $1,000 credit. The bridge shows a $63,000 commitment and separately states how much has been paid.
This is an illustrative workflow, not a client case study or a forecast. Replace the example’s facts with the records for your own project.
Complete your planning worksheet
Use the fields to connect evidence, action and approval. Your entries stay in this page and are included only when you choose to download them. They are not sent to a server and are not saved after a page reload.
Close the handoff
A finished worksheet should identify the result, its evidence and any remaining owner. If the result is uncertain, record the next action instead of marking the whole task complete. Keep the worksheet with the relevant source file and tell the receiving person which version applies.