Causes and Impacts of Recurring Employer Requirement Changes in Public Building Construction Projects: A Case of Jimma Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Employer requirements play a fundamental role in the successful delivery of any building construction project. These requirements serve as essential inputs for the design and specification of the project to be constructed. However, recurring changes in these requirements often lead to project delays and budget overruns. Thus, this study aims to investigate the root causes and impacts of recurring changes in employer’s requirements in public building construction projects. Methods: Employing a descriptive research design, for this study the data collected through questionnaires from various construction stakeholders. The study population comprised ongoing public building construction projects in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 25, and R statistical software. Descriptive statistics were utilized to calculate frequencies, percentages, and rankings of variables based on mean values. Results: Through mean value analysis, the top 10 causes of requirement changes identified and ranked encompassing as: lack of careful checking and correcting planning documents; ineffective risk management, planning, and monitoring structures; poor project management and planning skills; and inadequate preconstruction study and review of design documents. Furthermore, this study assessed the impacts of requirement changes, highlighting increase the cost of the project, claim, and dispute between contracting parties and delay in completion/delivery as the most significant outcomes. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for project managers and stakeholders, enabling them to enhance requirement management practices in building construction projects. By mitigating the identified causes and impacts, construction professionals can effectively manage changes in employer requirements. The efficient management of requirement changes is essential for the successful delivery of sustainable and resilient infrastructure (SRI) projects, aligning with the broader goals of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, stakeholder satisfaction, and long-term resilience.