Training on Managing Change Orders and Contractual Claims

Change orders and contractual claims are common challenges in project management that can impact timelines, costs, and stakeholder relationships. Managing Change Orders and Contractual Claims equips professionals with practical skills to handle these issues effectively, ensuring project success and minimizing risks.

This course covers the full process of identifying, documenting, analyzing, and resolving change orders and contractual claims across different project types. Participants will learn strategies for evaluating claims, negotiating settlements, and implementing change control procedures while maintaining compliance with contractual terms and legal requirements.

Through real-world case studies, practical exercises, and scenario-based learning, participants develop hands-on experience in handling disputes, managing scope changes, mitigating risks, and applying best practices in contract administration.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to manage change orders and claims proactively, resolve disputes efficiently, and maintain project integrity, cost control, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Contract managers and administrators

• Project managers and team leaders handling contracts

• Procurement and sourcing professionals involved in contract execution

• Legal and compliance officers overseeing claims and contractual obligations

• Professionals responsible for change management, dispute resolution, or contract administration

• Anyone involved in negotiating, managing, or monitoring contractual claims and change orders

Organizational Impact

• Control project costs and prevent budget overruns from uncontrolled changes.

• Improve timelines and reduce delays through proactive change/claims management.

• Standardize contract modifications, reducing legal exposure and litigation risk.

• Build stronger, more transparent relationships with partners and clients.

Personal Impact

• Gain specialized expertise in project and contract change management.

• Position for career growth into senior project, operations, or leadership roles.

• Drive profitability by ensuring changes are fairly managed and compensated.

• Lead complex negotiations with confidence and professionalism.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and avoid causes for contractual claims and change orders
• Outline the significant elements of the contract change process and identify different types of changes and variations
• Recognize and analyze the different types of owners' claims and contractors' claims and identify methods to deal with each type
• Evaluate time-related claims and cost-related claims and assess their impact
• Demonstrate, through actual situations, the different approaches to handling claims and variation orders and resolving conflicts through mutual collaborati

Module 1: Overview of Contracts, Changes, and Claims

• Basic concepts in contract law:
  • Force majeure
  • Notices: The neglected clause
  • Breach of contract
  • Right to remedy
  • Indemnifications and liabilities
• Why do claims and changes occur: The red flags

Module 2: Change Management

• Common causes for changes
• Requirements of change management
• Types of changes and variation
  • Directed changes
  • Constructive changes
  • Cardinal changes
• Writing a variation order

Module 3: Types of Claims

• Drafting a notice
• Owner’s claims
  • Defective work
  • Warranty claims
• Contractor’s claims
  • Changed conditions
  • Constructive changes
  • Delays and suspensions
  • Deficiencies in plans and specifications
  • Program extensions
• FIDIC claims

Module 4: Evaluation of Claims

• Time-related claims
• Excusable and non-excusable delays
• Evaluating delays
• Cost-related claims
• Cost calculations
• Drafting a claim

Module 5: Resolving Claims and Disputes

• Negotiation: Common practices
• Reaching a settlement
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):
  • Mediation: Neutral third party
  • Arbitration: Binding and non-binding
• Resolution through legal means
• Contract interpretation