- Author
-
Thomas, H. R.
|
Napolitan, C. L.
- Title
- Effects of Changes on Labor Productivity: Why and How Much.
- Coporate
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
- Report
-
Source Document 99
August 1994
80 p.
- Keywords
-
construction
- Abstract
- Changes and change orders are a source of concern to owners and contractors alike. Changes are an important contributor to cost overruns, schedule extensions, and contract acceleration. This report examines the quantitative effect of changes on labor productivity using productivity data from four active construction sites. In total, the database contains 151 weeks of data and shows a significant average loss of efficiency when performing changes work. Importantly, the report also investigates the reasons why there is a degradation of labor productivity. Understanding the causes is a prerequisite to formulating effective strategies for managing changes. The report begins with a brief literature review on changes and change orders. It shows that there is little substantive information on the quantitative aspects of changes and that most articles seem directed more toward publicity and advertising. The activities of the Change Impact Task Force to categorize changes is also reviewed.