In some cases, 有明确的范围和完美的计划, 项目从前期施工到竣工进展顺利. In other cases, life happens. Your budget is suddenly cut, or you realize that some critical component was left out and needs to be added.
A change order is in order.
Change orders can be uncomfortable, even intimidating, but three simple keys can help your organization navigate change orders to 在项目的整个生命周期中保持权力并做出前瞻性决策.
1. Discuss the Changes EARLY
作为客户，你有权力定下基调. At the beginning of a project, establish with your contractor the expectation that all changes be communicated as early as possible.
变更是由业主还是承包商发起的, discussing them early allows time to be proactive and change direction if necessary. When changes are mentioned too late, organizations can be forced to make fast, 缺乏灵活性的被动决策.
Mike Woods, 澳门足彩app的消费品包装集团(CPG)总裁, suggests clients and contractors diagnose the ripple effect of a change early in the process. Woods describes the ripple effect as the ability to assess everything affected by a change, not just the change itself.
Before making decisions, consider how a change will impact your overall project, schedule and budget.
2. Discuss the Changes OFTEN
Be clear about how often you and your contractor will discuss issues within the project. An ideal way to make this a habit is by including change orders as a topic in your monthly meetings. This way, even if there is no change to discuss, it allows the lines of communication to be open.
By talking over changes frequently, you can avoid the question, “How did we get here?” You can and deserve to be aware of where you stand in your project each step of the way.
3. Changes should be VERBAL and WRITTEN
All change orders should be written and explained verbally in detail to ensure all parties are on the same page.
For more clarity, you can require your contractor to be as descriptive as possible in each line item of the change order. 这有助于在变更影响到您之前对其连锁反应进行分析. Assessing the ripple effect may even uncover a better solution before submittal.
Although it’s no secret that changes can occur before all documentation is completed, you should be clear when you want change order documentation from your contractor. There is no rule of thumb for how often documentation should be submitted because it can work differently depending on the organization.
For example, one 澳门足彩app client prefers change order documentation be submitted quarterly to minimize paperwork. 另一个要求在更改后60天内完成文档. You and your contractor should agree on an interval that works for both of you.
Best Practices
Below are several best practices you should apply before you encounter a change order.
- 在你的组织中指定一个联络点. If changes occur, you want the contractor to ask the right person for approval.
- Diagnose the ripple effect. Analyze each area the change will affect.
- 明确谁将承担变革的成本. If this is not discussed with your contractor early, it can lead to surprises in the end.
- Align your expectations with your contractor so the process and procedures are understood when a change occurs.
- Collaborate with a trusted contractor about your scope so you can understand what is possible, 你的项目要想成功，哪些是必要的，哪些是可以省略的.
- 拥有变更管理程序的承包商的团队. 如果他们有适当的政策，并且对变更订单有深入的经验, it will mean fewer headaches for you.
虽然变更顺序不太理想，而且往往相当复杂, 它们是建筑景观的一部分. Communication and structure are vital and following these steps and best practices will help you navigate them more smoothly.
If you would like to learn more about 澳门足彩app’s change-management program and how it is implemented on our projects, feel free to contact us.
