Abstract:
There are often some modifications to be made on construction project designs either at
the design stage or construction stage, which usually bring about change order in
construction projects. This however, presents problems to all parties involved in the
construction process and execution. This study investigates the main causes of change
order and its effects on construction projects using questionnaire surveys which were
distributed to Engineers, Architects and Technologists working in Construction Firms,
Consultancy firms and Government ministries in charge of works and infrastructure in
Southeast of Nigeria. The data obtained were analysed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS
(Statistical Package for Social Science) and Relative Importance Index. The study found
that the most three major causes of change order on construction projects are Errors and
omissions in design, Change of plan by owner and Change of design by consultants. And,
the three major effects found through the study are Increase in cost, Time overrun and
Delay in completion of projects. The study concluded that changes that occur in
construction projects do not only result from the project owner but from the outlined
change order causal factors surveyed.
