Lukhele, T; Botha, B and Mbanga, S (2021) Exploring project complexity relations to scope changes in construction projects: A case study of NEC projects in South Africa. Construction Economics and Building, 21(2), pp. 18-33. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Construction projects are of very complex nature, and subject to circumstances of high uncertainties and risks due to the interdependences of activities and processes in the project performance. As a result of the dynamic complexities inherited in construction projects, changes in the scope of work are inevitable. Of particular concern is that, when scope changes are introduced in a project, contractors follow a systematic procedure in managing the changes, but with poor planning and implementation thereof because the project complexities that underpin the scope changes are not fully understood. Therefore, despite that complexity is an inherent and defining feature of construction projects, studies in the literature have failed to grasp and present the dynamics of project complexity which underlie the scope changes in the delivery of construction project. The TOE (Technical Organizational Environmental) framework was adopted and applied on a multiple-case study research design in order to explore and denote project complexity relations to scope changes in construction projects. Through a content analysis procedure, six key elements of project complexities that relate to scope changes in the construction projects has emerged. Understanding these complexity elements could enable the project management team to apply a front-end planning approach in the initiation phase of the projects in order to better manage scope changes in the execution phase of the project, and eventually to improve the project performance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction projects; NEC; project complexities; scope changes |
| Index terms: | project complexity, implementation, project management team, project performance, case study, complexity, interdependence, scope change, South Africa, construction project, content analysis, dynamics, research design |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, project management theory and practice, contractual arrangements, scope management, organizational theory, data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, Geography, production management, profession, organizational analysis, systems engineering |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Organizational Design, Procurement, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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