A change management system for construction projects

摘要

Changes are an inherent characteristic of construction projects. Because many decisions have to be made based on incomplete information and under uncertainty at the design and planning stages, some adjustments to the design and project plans at later stages are inevitable. Change management is critical to the success of a project. If change is not managed appropriately, it can cause project delays and overspending. This paper presents a change management system, which provides intelligent support for the project team during construction projects. It is capable of simulating different scenarios of change options by predicting and evaluating their impacts, and providing advice on the most appropriate course of action in response to a change event. The simulations can be carried out either at the planning stage or at project execution stage.