Antecedents and Consequences of Project Changes: An Empirical Study on Construction Projects of Punjab-Pakistan

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore the causes of the project changes in construction Projects of the Punjab province of Pakistan. The effects of the project changes on the construction projects were also measured. Moreover, a set of change controls were identified for minimizing the intensity of negative effects of project changes. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect the data from construction industry located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Linear Regression and Structural Equation Model (SEM) were applied as statistical techniques to analyze the data and to draw the inference. It was found that client associated project changes were most critical in the construction projects and their intensity was more than other change factors, whereas the cost associated effects were the most common results of the construction project changes. It was also found that project changes did not have significant relation with reputation associated effects. Moreover the “Freezing design” and “Clarify change order procedures” were found to be the most important change control methods to minimize the severity of the project variations. The study is expected to provide significant insights to the project managers so that they can formulate the strategies to address the change and its effects in construction projects