Change management practices in the Ghanaian Construction Industry
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Date
NOVEMBER, 2015
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Abstract
Changes are inevitable in any construction project. Needs of the owner may change in the course of design or construction, market conditions may impose changes to the parameters of the project, and technological developments may alter the design and the choice of the engineer. The engineer’s review of the design may bring about changes to improve or optimize the design and hence the operation of the project. Further, errors and omissions in engineering or construction may force a change. All these factors and many others necessitate changes that are costly and generally un-welcomed by all parties, Al-Dubaisi (2000). Change management process is the sequence of steps or activities that a change management team or project leader would follow to apply change management to a project. In Ghana like other countries change management is the responsibility of change management team (CMT) or consultants. Over the years, parallel streams of experts in the form of Architect, Engineers, and consultant have operated concurrently with the public agencies in Construction industry (CI). These agencies are Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads and Department of Feeder Roads. The prime purpose of this research was exploring the change management processes used in Ghanaian construction industry. Data was also gathered using closed and open-ended questionnaires. The results were analyzed using descriptive techniques. The study shows that all the four models listed in literature review are applicable in Ghanaian construction industry but Flowchart model is the most useful model. The findings shows that corrections and unforeseen site conditions are the major causes of change in construction project, also inadequate funding, inflation fluctuation and Change or increase mark up for contractor are the three main difficulties that are always encounter during change implementation.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, College of Art and Built Environment,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in
partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Construction Management.