Change management involving physical infrastructure projects in the local government sector of Ghana (study of selected district assemblies in central region)

Abstract

Change is an endemic issue in construction project environments and often involves engineering innovation to solve problems. The aim of the study was to examine the change management involving in the physical infrastructure projects in the local government section in Ghana and to make appropriate recommendations based on the findings of the study in relation to physical infrastructure projects. The study adopted a quantitative approach of enquired through questionnaires. The target population of the study was construction professionals employed by district assemblies in the Central Region. purposive sampling technique was used to select 12 out of 22 district assemblies in the Central Region. A total of 177 questionnaires were distributed to all 177 construction professionals employed by the 12 district assemblies and a response rate of 45% was achieved. The findings of the study revealed the most important causes to included; political influence, litigation/conflicts on land, new government regulation and natural disasters. Also, the study found challenges associated with change management involving physical infrastructure projects in the assemblies studied: change of government, failures to deal with problems in time, the poor performance of subcontractors, defective workmanship and lack of coordination between consultant and contractor.The study further found that the impact of change on the performance of physical infrastructure in the projects in the assemblies is not only limited to time and cost but includes quality. Based on the findings, the study has made recommendations for managing change during project execution and for investigating the negative effects of the causes of change.