The effect of managing changes in reducing the conflicts of key stakeholders of construction projects

Nikpour Bakhtiari, Fatemeh; Gerami, Mohsen

doi:10.22065/jsce.2025.484856.3550

The effect of managing changes in reducing the conflicts of key stakeholders of construction projects

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fatemeh Nikpour Bakhtiari ¹

Mohsen Gerami ²

¹ Master's student in Project and Construction Management, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

² Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

10.22065/jsce.2025.484856.3550

Abstract

Due to their inherent complexity and the diversity of stakeholders, construction projects are constantly exposed to various changes. These changes may be directly implemented or arise from environmental and organizational factors. One of the main causes of conflict in such projects is the lack of effective change management, as unexamined modifications may adversely affect the needs and expectations of stakeholders. While well-managed changes can enhance project performance, unmanaged ones often lead to serious disputes. This study aims to identify key factors influencing change manageability—such as recognizing and promoting beneficial changes—and propose strategies such as categorizing and ranking factors based on change management steps and applying four response strategies to help reduce stakeholder tensions. This applied research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, expert opinions were utilized to extract initial concepts and develop a questionnaire covering 11 main themes. In the quantitative phase, data from stakeholder surveys were analyzed. Findings indicate that a thorough assessment of changes before implementation significantly reduces resistance and enhances stakeholder engagement. Additionally, active stakeholder participation in decision-making and clearly defined roles were identified as key factors in minimizing conflicts. Ultimately, eleven critical factors influencing change management were identified, with “mandatory changes,” “inadequate review of modifications,” and “unreasonable client demands” having the most negative impact on project conflicts.

Keywords

manageability of changes

Changes

Conflicts

key stakeholders

construction projects

Subjects

Project and Construction Management

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