Abstract
Design change is a common but significant problem in construction projects. Issues of delay, cost overruns, claims, and disputes in projects occur as a result. However, design change studies in the power-project area are less often discussed. As a result, the primary objective of this study was to identify important cause factors of design changes according to different power-project types in Ghana. Following a thorough assessment of the literature, 36 potential causes were identified, which were narrowed down by expert reviews to 30. In this study, power projects were classified into three categories: power plant, renewable, and distribution and transmission. The results indicate owner-related financial problems as the most important cause of design change for all three project types, followed by the second and third most significant in each of the categories, respectively: errors and omission in design and problems or unforeseen site conditions in power plant projects; deficient quality and quantity of resources and inflation and changes in interest and exchange rates in renewable projects; and problems or unforeseen site conditions and changes of plans in distribution and transmission projects. Based on the findings, power-project stakeholders are able to comprehend the dynamics of design change and develop effective design management strategies to reduce impact.
Highlights
The construction industry is a critical component of any country’s growth and an important metric for evaluating its economic output [1]
This study identifies 30 design change causes that are common among power projects and divides them into two categories: controllable and uncontrollable
This study purposely investigated the important causes of design change in the Ghanaian power industry
Summary
The construction industry is a critical component of any country’s growth and an important metric for evaluating its economic output [1]. Construction industry investments are just as important as investments in any other sector. The industry experiences delays and cost overruns as a result of issues that arise throughout the project design and construction phases. Challenges confronted in the construction phase of projects result from the high occurrence of uncertainties, according to Suleiman and Luvara [4]. Uncertainties cannot be eliminated from the project execution phase, adding further complexity, which makes it difficult to complete any project without changing plans before and during the construction period [5]. Design changes occur in every type of project, including power projects
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