Factors Affecting Change Orders in High-End Private Residential Projects in Lebanon

Abstract

The thesis addresses the high end private residential projects in Lebanon, and discusses the reasons for projects’ change orders. This research aims to determine the reasons for change orders, the party responsible for them, the factors that affect them, and finally, the mitigation measures to reduce them. From the literature review, reasons for change orders were extracted, some were modified and others were added by interviewing scholars in the construction sector, so that the reasons properly suit the project type being discussed. Statistical data among 23 completed projects in the past 10 years was the base of the study. Interviews with managers in leading construction companies in Lebanon contributes to analyzing the statistical data results, to give recommendations to handle the main reasons for change orders. A survey with professionals in the construction industry was conducted to rank the mitigation measures proposed. The final outcome of this research is a presentation of the results, that allows for extrapolating for future projects, as well as guidelines that could help determine the expected change order amounts, and direct the concerned parties to where the efforts should be exerted to minimize change orders occurrence.