Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa

Construction projects are of very complex nature, and subject to circumstances of high uncertainties and risks due to the interdependences of activities and processes in the project performance.  As a result of the dynamic complexities inherited in construction projects, changes in the scope of work...

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Main Authors: Themba Lukhele, Brink Botha, Sijekula Mbanga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UTS ePRESS 2021-05-01
Series:Construction Economics and Building
Subjects:
Online Access:https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/AJCEB/article/view/7518
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author Themba Lukhele
Brink Botha
Sijekula Mbanga
author_facet Themba Lukhele
Brink Botha
Sijekula Mbanga
author_sort Themba Lukhele
collection DOAJ
description Construction projects are of very complex nature, and subject to circumstances of high uncertainties and risks due to the interdependences of activities and processes in the project performance.  As a result of the dynamic complexities inherited in construction projects, changes in the scope of work are inevitable. Of particular concern is that, when scope changes are introduced in a project, contractors follow a systematic procedure in managing the changes, but with poor planning and implementation thereof because the project complexities that underpin the scope changes are not fully understood. Therefore, despite that complexity is an inherent and defining feature of construction projects, studies in the literature have failed to grasp and present the dynamics of project complexity which underlie the scope changes in the delivery of construction project. The TEO (Technical Organizational Environmental) framework was adopted and applied on a multiple-case study research design in order to explore and denote project complexity relations to scope changes in construction projects. Through a content analysis procedure, six key elements of project complexities that relate to scope changes in the construction projects has emerged. Understanding these complexity elements could enable the project management team to apply a front-end planning approach in the initiation phase of the projects in order to better manage scope changes in the execution phase of the project, and eventually to improve the project performance.
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spelling doaj.art-55b29341718d4df4bffc96becd9b87272022-12-22T04:11:31ZengUTS ePRESSConstruction Economics and Building2204-90292021-05-0121210.5130/AJCEB.v21i2.7518Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South AfricaThemba Lukhele0Brink Botha1Sijekula Mbanga2Nelson Mandela UniversityNelson Mandela UniversityNelson Mandela UniversityConstruction projects are of very complex nature, and subject to circumstances of high uncertainties and risks due to the interdependences of activities and processes in the project performance.  As a result of the dynamic complexities inherited in construction projects, changes in the scope of work are inevitable. Of particular concern is that, when scope changes are introduced in a project, contractors follow a systematic procedure in managing the changes, but with poor planning and implementation thereof because the project complexities that underpin the scope changes are not fully understood. Therefore, despite that complexity is an inherent and defining feature of construction projects, studies in the literature have failed to grasp and present the dynamics of project complexity which underlie the scope changes in the delivery of construction project. The TEO (Technical Organizational Environmental) framework was adopted and applied on a multiple-case study research design in order to explore and denote project complexity relations to scope changes in construction projects. Through a content analysis procedure, six key elements of project complexities that relate to scope changes in the construction projects has emerged. Understanding these complexity elements could enable the project management team to apply a front-end planning approach in the initiation phase of the projects in order to better manage scope changes in the execution phase of the project, and eventually to improve the project performance.https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/AJCEB/article/view/7518Project Complexities; Scope Changes; Construction Projects; NEC
spellingShingle Themba Lukhele
Brink Botha
Sijekula Mbanga
Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
Construction Economics and Building
Project Complexities; Scope Changes; Construction Projects; NEC
title Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
title_full Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
title_fullStr Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
title_short Exploring Project Complexity Relations to Scope Changes in Construction Projects: A Case Study of NEC Projects in South Africa
title_sort exploring project complexity relations to scope changes in construction projects a case study of nec projects in south africa
topic Project Complexities; Scope Changes; Construction Projects; NEC
url https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/AJCEB/article/view/7518
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AT sijekulambanga exploringprojectcomplexityrelationstoscopechangesinconstructionprojectsacasestudyofnecprojectsinsouthafrica