Assessmentof Causes And Impacts Of Variation Order On Public Building Construction Projects: In Jimma Zone

Abstract

Thc construction industry is one of the most fundamental economic development of any country and job opportunity creatingfield for the most people in the surrounding and for those who are living in the country for both skilled and unskilled workforce. However nowadays, variation orders become a common problem for public building projects. This problem can be minimized by conducting the appropriate studies. The main objective of the study is to assess the causes and impacts of variation order on the public building constructions and to recommend the ways of minimizing mechanism. The researcher followed a purposive sampling method to select the participants of the study by taking contractors who have licenses grade 1-5 that participated in public building constructions and their physical progression of construction completed 100%.Descriptive statistics for quantitative and explanation for qualitative data were used to achieve the objectives of the study. The questionnaires were distributed to project owners (clients), consultants, and contractors.In addition to questionnaires,interview was carried out to gather additional information. The collected data wasanalyzed using SPSS software version 22 to generate frequencies.Basesdthis,the researcher used RII to interprete the results. Based on collected data,the results show that the main causes of variation order in selected construction projects were errors and omissions in design as well as in other documents(79.67%),change of client interest(77.33%),modification in design(74.00%), change of plans or scope(68.67%), shortage of time during preparation of design and BOQ or bid document(61.67%) that should be given attention from planning the project up to tendering stage.The results indicted that, variation orderoccurred more frequently in supper structure partof the selected public buildings(72.00%). As the result indicated, major impact of ariation order was on financial capacity of the client(72.00%). The study concluded with recommendations that,the client must be capable in financial and provide a clear brief scope of works.Also client should invites different stake holders who have good experience to review the project design. The design and other bid of document must prepare by experienced and capable consultants or other persons.