Project Change Management.pdf

The International Journal of Managing Value and Supply Chains (IJMVSC) published a study on managing and controlling project changes in post-conflict countries, specifically in Liberia. The study found that ineffective change management and control practices are major impediments to meeting project completion timelines and can lead to project failures.

Key issues identified include:

Lack of institutional framework for change control
Non-existent structural and systematic approach for managing and controlling changes
Prevalence of multiple change requests or variation orders driven by political interests, corruption, and other fraudulent practices

To mitigate these issues, the study recommends:

Establishing a Change Management Board (CCB) to review and approve change requests
Implementing a regulatory authority for change to ensure that changes are properly controlled and coordinated
Developing an institutional framework for change management to minimize disruptions and increase project success

Effective change management is critical to achieving project success, and its lack can lead to scope creep, cost overruns, and schedule delays. The study suggests that project management professionals should follow a systematic approach to change management, including identifying, documenting, approving, and implementing changes in a controlled and coordinated manner.

The study also highlights the importance of monitoring and controlling changes during project implementation to ensure that the project stays on track and that changes are properly managed. By following these recommendations, project organizations in Liberia and other post-conflict countries can minimize budget and schedule overruns and increase the chances of project success.