The Impact of Change Orders on the Waste Materials of Large-Scale Projects

Abstract

Change orders (CO) are formal agreements that alter, add to, or modify the work specified in a contract document. These changes often necessitate adjustments to the project scope, potentially requiring contract modification. Generally, CO have been identified as a significant contributor to Wast Materials (WM) in road improvement projects, as outlined in waste management recommendations. The impact of waste management on project success is substantial, as materials constitute a critical component of construction, accounting for approximately 40-60% of the total project cost. This research aimed to determine the impact of CO on project waste management, with a specific focus on large-scale projects. To achieve this objective, a 4-stage decision-making process was adopted using the Delphi method to design and distribute questionnaires. The results identified 2 variables, comprising 21 indicators, that contribute to waste management in road construction projects. Additionally, 3 primary impacts of CO were recorded, affecting costs, quality, and implementation time. Further analysis using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Smart PLS 4.0 revealed that CO had a significant impact on 2 variables: procurement and material handling, as well as implementation and material planning. These variables, consisting of 21 indicators, accounted for 69% of the observed effects, with a prediction accuracy rate of 67.7% regarding the impact of changes in construction work.