Construction project change management in Indian construction industry: status, importance and impact

Abstract Changes and change management are both considered critical issues encountered in the construction industry. Even if there had been comprehensive plans during or prior to the construction stage, changes in projects are inevitable. If not managed competently, some changes could generate disruptive risks, leading to project failure. Implementing change management is vital to reduce the destructive impact of changes. There is a lack of research on change management in the construction industry in India. Hence, this research aims to appraise the status quo, deciding factors, benefits, obstacles, significance, and impact of change management implementation in the Indian construction sector. To achieve the research objectives, a questionnaire survey was carried out targeting project directors, managers, and engineers, with the majority having over 10 years of experience in the industry. The responses were analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results revealed that the current execution of the change management approach was somewhat limited. The primary factor that promotes change management implementation is the project cost. Regarding the benefits and obstacles of change management execution, rapid response to change was the primary benefit, whereas the limited project scope was the significant obstacle. The findings are significant for project stakeholders, including decision-makers, policy-makers, and practitioners in the construction industry. They provide actionable insights to enhance change management practices, improving project quality, cost efficiency, and adherence to schedules while mitigating risks. These results can also serve as a foundation for future research, inspiring investigations into innovative tools, frameworks, and strategies to optimise change management implementation and address sector-specific challenges in a dynamic construction environment.