Project and ContractVariation and Change Order Management
Variations are where a project's cost and programme actually move, and they are frequently instructed informally, priced late and settled at the end when leverage has shifted. This course covers controlling them. Delegates work through what constitutes a variation under the contract, the authority to instruct one and the consequence of an instruction from somebody without it, and valuation rules including rates, star rates and cost. Time effect is covered separately from cost, since the two are commonly conflated. Record keeping and the substantiation a variation needs are addressed. The course closes on negotiating a settlement and on preventing scope creep disguised as clarification.
Course objectives
- Determine what constitutes a variation under the contract
- Identify who has authority to instruct and the effect of one who does not
- Value a variation using rates, star rates or cost as appropriate
- Assess time effect separately from cost effect
- Keep records that substantiate a variation claim
- Negotiate a settlement before leverage shifts
- Prevent scope creep disguised as clarification
Who should attend
- Contract administrators and quantity surveyors
- Project and construction managers
- Engineers issuing instructions on site
- Contractor commercial staff
- Finance staff assessing project cost movement
Course outline
- 01Where project cost actually moves
- 02What constitutes a variation
- 03Authority to instruct
- 04Valuation rules and rates
- 05Star rates and cost based valuation
- 06Time effect assessed separately
- 07Records and substantiation
- 08Settlement and preventing scope creep
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September to 2 October 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 28 to 30 December 2026 | Lagos, Nigeria | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 4 to 6 January 2027 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 25 to 27 January 2027 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 22 to 24 February 2027 | Gaborone, Botswana | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |