Administrative Policies to Reduce the Negative Impact of Variation Orders on Jordanian Construction Projects

Abstract

Variation orders have been identified globally as important reasons for the poor performance of construction projects in most countries, which has affected their national economic growth. Several variation orders have been identified in the Jordanian construction industry; however, there is a paucity of information on the approaches to minimize their occurrence. Therefore, administrative practices to reduce the negative impact of variation orders in the construction sector in Jordan are highly required. To achieve the objective of the current study, the researchers used the quantitative approach to a structured questionnaire consisting of 10 administrative policies to reduce the negative impact of variation orders. A total of 161 questionnaires were collected against 250 questionnaires distributed among engineers in construction projects. According to the findings of the study, the top five policies for minimizing variation orders include: all involved parties require audit planning before works start on site; ensure that the drawings conform to the required specifications; the owner must be informed of the designs before bidding; checking the specifications required in the contract; effective communication between all parties concerned during the entire stages of the project. Moreover, proper planning before starting the project greatly contributes to reducing potential variation orders. The findings of this research, therefore, contribute to a pool of knowledge that will enable practitioners and researchers in the construction industry to develop effective strategies for minimizing variation orders.