Understanding the effects of variation orders on construction project success: insights from the Jordanian context

Abstract

The construction industry is renowned for its complexity, involving multiple variables, stakeholders, and uncertainties. Variation Orders (VOs) have emerged as crucial factors affecting construction projects, yet their implications extend beyond time and cost. This study delves into the significance of VOs impacts on construction project performance and success, particularly within the context of Jordan. 97 construction professionals from different Jordanian organizations participated to determine the prevalent VOs impacts and those severely affecting project performance and success. The results indicated that the most significant effects of VOs are time overrun, cost overrun, extra money paid for contractors, productivity degradation, quality decrease, and stakeholder dissatisfaction. The factor analysis emphasized the interdependencies among the investigated impacts. The current study holds significant importance for practitioners and researchers in construction and project management. It empowers practitioners with tools to manage projects more effectively by defining the critical importance of schedule, cost, productivity, quality, and stakeholder management. It emphasizes their role as foundational elements for project success and supports researchers in advancing knowledge and practical solutions for the challenges faced in the dynamic construction environment. This study recommends investigating other project types and VO attributes to reach a comprehensive understanding, and then develop an integrated solution.