Managing Projects Flashcards
What constitutes a change, specifically looking at the 3MW Data Centre Project?
A change is an alteration to the scope of works that was not included in the original contract. The change management process is set out in the contract and is the process of using a variation. Elements of the process including the use of the change control log are bespoke and based off senior projects managers on this projects previous experience working with the client. The change control log easily sets out all changes and actions associated with each change allowing the client to easily track any outstanding proposed changes before they are formally instructed under the contract as a variation.
Describe the change management process on the Data Centre project.
The first step is to propose the change, anyone in the project team can identify a change. This person must then provide a proposal for the change which describes the change and how it will benefit the project. The person identifying the change would complete part 1 of the change request form.
The next step is to understand the impact of the change. For this project the relevant party would provide me with the costs for the proposed change, usually this is the contractor providing as assessment of the change. As the project manager I would assess the time impact the change is expecting to have on the project.
Once the initial impact assessment has been completed the QS would validate the costs proposed and ensure these are best value for money for the client.
Once I am happy the form is complete with all relevant information,the change must be approved by the client through a formal email.
Once the client provides formal email approval the change will be recorded as approved in the change log tracker and inform the QS.
The QS will then provide a formal contract instruction to formally complete the change and allow the contractor to implement the change.
What are the benefits of having a robust change control procedure on your projects?
- Change control is the administrative process that implements the contract mechanisms for instructing change.
- Process must adhere to the contract requirements for notification and approval of change by the identified parties.
- It is a critical part of a well-run and audited project.
- Any potential change should go through this process before an instruction is given so that the employer feels they are able to make informed decisions.
- Also prevents the contractor acting on changes that they believe were instructed, only to find out that they were not actually communicated to the employer.
- The change control system should not be too cumbersome so that it deters the project team from using it.
- All parties should want to use it, as it will provide security, auditability and clarifications of any changes or rejections of any changes.
- Without a good change control procedure, the final account negotiations can be more difficult.
- Can cause confusion on what contractor believes was instructed and what was actually instructed.
