Smith, J; Edwards, D J; Martek, I; Chileshe, N; Hayhow, S and Roberts, C J (2023) The antecedents of construction project change: An analysis of design and build procurement application. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 21(3), pp. 655-689. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to excoriate, define and delineate the main drivers of “change” in commercial construction projects and generate guidelines on how to minimise exposure to the associated adverse effects upon project stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts mixed doctrines through a combination of epistemological lenses, embracing two primary philosophical stances: interpretivism, to identify the primary drivers of change based on a systematic literature review and a post-positivist, inductive approach to analyse the results of change within a Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Design and Build (D&B) construction project case study. Findings: The causal nexus of change during the construction phase is assessed and delineated; the key affecting factors are thematically grouped under headings: extent and severity; time in relation to implementing; instigating party; individual(s) responsible for managing the change; reason for the change; available resource; recoverable or non-recoverable; contract/project type; and type of client. Following this, the effects of change on key elements of the project are encapsulated and recommendations for adaptations which may provide improved experiences are offered. Originality/value: The study tackles the common issue of managing the deleterious effects of change on commercial construction projects, defining management techniques to minimise stakeholder tribulation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | change management; commercial construction; construction industry; design and build; joint contract tribunal; project rework |
| Index terms: | interpretivism, exposure, Joint Contracts Tribunal, systematic literature review, construction industry, rework, change management, inductive approach, project stakeholder, construction project, tribunal, case study, adaptation, construction phase, commercial construction, JCT, methodology, design and build |
| Subjects: | research evaluation and metrics, public and environmental health, contractual arrangements, production management, industry analysis, standard forms of contract, construction type, dispute resolution, management, user focus, project delivery, data collection methods, standard-form contract drafting bodies, theoretical framing, sociology, research methods, operations management |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Stakeholder Management, Procurement, Organizational Design, Construction Technology, Research Practice, Project Management, Health and Safety, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here