What Drives Variation Order Impact on Project Performance? PLS-SEM Evidence from Omani Fishery Port ProjectsT: The impact of Varetion Order

Masoud ALQassabi; Shuhairy Norhisham; Mohammed Zakwan; Azan AL-Shukaili; Rashid AlKhawaldi

doi:10.35877/454RI.asci4793

PDF Get rights and content

Journal of Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, and Education

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026), Pages 300-320 · 2026-08-31

What Drives Variation Order Impact on Project Performance? PLS-SEM Evidence from Omani Fishery Port ProjectsT

The impact of Varetion Order

Masoud ALQassabi, Shuhairy Norhisham, Mohammed Zakwan, Azan AL-Shukaili, Rashid AlKhawaldi

https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.asci4793

Abstract

Variation orders (VOs) represent a persistent source of cost overruns, schedule delays, and stakeholder disputes in construction projects worldwide, yet their differential impact on performance across heterogeneous causal categories remains insufficiently understood, particularly in specialised marine infrastructure contexts. This study investigates the causes and project performance consequences of variation orders in Omani fishery port construction projects using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Seven theoretically grounded VO cause categories, contractor-related (CON), client-related (CR), consultant-related (CS), environmental-related (ER), innovation-related (IR), organizational-related (OR), and resource-related (RR), were modeled as independent predictors of project performance (PP), operationalised across cost, time, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction dimensions. Survey data were collected from 113 construction professionals with direct fishery port project experience in Oman, encompassing government client agencies, engineering consultancies, and contracting organisations. The structural model results reveal that contractor-related causes (? = 0.549, p = 0.006, f² = 0.547) and client-related causes (? = 0.281, p = 0.021, f² = 0.280) are the only statistically significant direct predictors of project performance, collectively demonstrating that VO impacts are concentrated in execution capability and client governance rather than distributed evenly across causal domains. The remaining five constructs did not attain direct significance, suggesting their performance effects operate through mediated pathways via contractor execution and client decision-making mechanisms. These findings contribute an integrated, context-sensitive structural model of VO impact to the construction management literature and offer targeted governance recommendations for procuring authorities, engineering consultants, and contracting firms operating within Oman's marine infrastructure program.

Keywords

Variation Order Impact on Project Performance Omani Fishery Port Projects

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References (33)

Adu, M. E., Ekung, S. B., & Adeniran, L. (2020). Key causes of variation orders in public construction projects in South-South Nigeria: An explanatory factor analysis. Civil and Environmental Research, 12(1), 47–59.
Al Maamari, A. S. M., & Khan, F. R. (2021). Evaluating the causes and impacts of change orders on construction project performance in Oman. International Journal of Research in Entrepreneurship & Business Studies, 2(1), 41–50.
Alnuaimi, A. S., Taha, R. A., Al Mohsin, M., & Al-Harthi, A. S. (2010). Causes, effects, benefits, and remedies of change orders on public construction projects in Oman. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 136(5), 615–622.
AlRubaiei, Q. A. H., Nifa, F. A. A., Chong, K. L., & Rahim, A. H. A. (2022). A review of scope management in public construction projects in Oman. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2644(1), 020012.
Alsulami, B. (2024). Quantifying the impact of change orders on construction project performance in Saudi Arabia. Buildings, 14(3), 587.
Alsohiman, N. K., Wael, A., & Husnain, H. (2023). Ranking of variation orders caused by the owners of construction projects in Saudi Arabia using statistical and fuzzy-based methods. CivilEng, 4(4), 661–681.
Amzafi, N. H., Ishak, S. A., Rahim, A., Amlus, M. H., Rani, H. A., Syammaun, T., Mokhtar, H., & Ayob, A. (2024). A systematic review of the causes and effects of variation orders in sustainable construction in developing countries. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 16(4), 188–203.
Arain, F. M., & Pheng, L. S. (2007). Modeling for management of variations in building projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 14(5), 420–433.
Cabalag, M. V., & Silva, D. L. (2019). Variation prognostic model on port infrastructures: Employment of principal component analysis for factor extraction instigating disparity on planning and implementation phase. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering.
Do, S. T., Nguyen, V. T., & Nguyen, N. H. (2022). Relationship networks between variation orders and claims/disputes causes on construction project performance and stakeholder performance. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management.
Elshaikh, E., & Mahmoud, S. (2020). Variation orders in building projects in Khartoum State-Sudan: Causes and impact on projects performance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 146(1), 04019093.
Enshassi, A., Arain, F., & Al-Raee, S. (2010). Causes of variation orders in construction projects in the Gaza Strip. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 16(4), 540–551.
Ezeldin, A. S., & El Sarag, J. M. (2018). Causes of variation orders in the Egyptian construction industry: Time and cost impacts. CSCE General Conference 2018.
Hamad, R. J., Tayeh, B. A., & Al Aisri, H. A. (2021). Critical factors affecting the success of construction projects in Oman. Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering, 29(2), 121-138.
Handayani, T., Likhitruangsilp, V., & Yabuki, N. (2019). A building information modeling (BIM)-integrated system for evaluating the impact of change orders. Engineering Journal, 23(4), 67–90.
Hindami, G., Suroso, A., & Amin, M. (2024). Analysis of the influence of order variation factors on the costs and time of implementing channel diversion infrastructure construction projects in residential areas. Jurnal Pensil, 13(2), 130–144.
Ismaeil, E., & Sobaih, A. (2024). A proposed model for variation order management in construction projects. Buildings, 14(3), 726.
Ismaeel, W. S., Naji, H. I., & Zehawi, R. R. (2022). A system dynamics model for evaluating the impact of change orders on construction project performance. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 23(5), 717-729.
M. Karim, K. H., Noori, S. A., & Basira, N. M. (2020). The causes of variation orders and their effects on cost and time of projects in Sulaimani Governorate. Science Journal, 5(1), 218–235.
Mahamid, I., & Abdelaal, A. (2025). Causes and effects of change orders in construction projects in Palestine. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 15(1), 19052–19061.
Mohammad, N., Che-Ani, A. I., & Rakmat, R. A. O. K. (2017). Causes and effects of variation orders in the construction of terrace housing projects: A case study in the State of Selangor, Malaysia. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 6, 226–232.
Mohammad, N., Hamzah, Z., & Mokhtar, N. A. (2022). Control of variation orders in the construction of residential projects in Malaysia. Planning Malaysia, 20.
Motawa, I. (2004). A knowledge-based approach to managing change in construction. International Journal of Project Management, 22(5), 365–371.
Msiska, U., Mashwama, N., & Thwala, D. (2022). Impact of variation orders on construction project cost and time. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development.
Nguyen, V. T., & Do, S. T. (2023). Assessing the relationship chain among causes of variation orders, project performance, and stakeholder performance in construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(9), 1592–1602.
Oladapo, A. A. (2007). A quantitative assessment of the cost and time impact of variation orders on construction projects. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 5(1), 35–48.
Oyewobi, L. O., Jimoh, R., Ganiyu, B. O., & Shittu, A. A. (2016). Analysis of causes and impact of variation order on educational building projects. Journal of Facilities Management, 14(2), 139–164.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71.
Saki, R., & Yeom, C. (2022). Causes of variation orders in road construction projects in Tanzania. Open Transportation Journal, 16(1).
Shugran, A. A., & Ghazali, F. E. M. (2024). Understanding the effects of variation orders on construction project success: Insights from the Jordanian context. International Journal of Construction Management.
Supreme Council for Planning. (2020). Oman Vision 2040: The national framework. Muscat: Government of Oman.
Taiwo, A. E., Ekung, S. B., & Adeniran, L. (2020). Assessment of causes and effects of variation orders on construction project performance in South West Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 7(3), 629–641.
Walsh, A., & Walker, P. (2020). The Significance of Cultural Risks for Western Consultants Executing GCC Megaprojects. In World Academy of Science and Technology (Ed.), International Research Conference (Vol. 9, pp. 315-324).

How to Cite

ALQassabi, M., Norhisham, S., Zakwan, M., AL-Shukaili, A., & AlKhawaldi, R. (2026). What Drives Variation Order Impact on Project Performance? PLS-SEM Evidence from Omani Fishery Port ProjectsT: The impact of Varetion Order. Journal of Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, and Education, 8(2), 300–320. https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.asci4793