Volatility in Construction: Different Dimensions and Types of Changes

Effective change management has been touted as the next strategic weapon for competitiveness. The aim of this paper is to investigate the dimensionality of changes in construction. Under this aim, the specific objectives are to: define and classify the types of changes; and operationalize the types of changes. The literature review reveals that changes in construction could categorise along five dimensions: time; need; effect; process; and environment. Each dimension comprises at least two different types of changes. The identified dimensions and types of changes will be tested in the next stage of a research project, and thereafter the empirical findings will attempt to provide industry practitioners in-depth insights into different constituents of change that could affect their business operation.