PCC Change Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A contractor submits a change request citing differing site conditions. Under which contract clause is this typically addressed?
- Force Majeure
- Differing Site Conditions clause (Correct answer)
- Liquidated Damages clause
- No-damage-for-delay clause
Correct answer: Differing Site Conditions clause
The Differing Site Conditions clause entitles contractors to compensation when actual conditions differ materially from those indicated in the contract.
Question 2: Which schedule metric is most useful for assessing the cumulative impact of multiple approved changes on project completion date?
- Total float
- Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
- Critical path shift analysis (Correct answer)
- Resource histogram
Correct answer: Critical path shift analysis
Critical path shift analysis directly shows how changes have moved key milestones and the project end date.
Question 3: An owner verbally directs additional work during a site visit but refuses to issue a formal change order. What should the contractor do?
- Refuse to perform the work until a change order is signed
- Perform the work and submit a written notice of claim promptly (Correct answer)
- Absorb the cost as goodwill
- Stop all project work immediately
Correct answer: Perform the work and submit a written notice of claim promptly
The contractor should perform directed work to avoid default while simultaneously preserving claim rights through timely written notice.
Question 4: Which of the following is a leading indicator that scope creep is occurring on a project?
- Decreasing number of change requests
- Increasing actual costs with no corresponding approved changes (Correct answer)
- Schedule float increasing on non-critical paths
- Declining RFI count
Correct answer: Increasing actual costs with no corresponding approved changes
Rising actual costs without corresponding approved changes suggest that unapproved work is being performed, a hallmark of scope creep.
Question 5: When pricing a change order for extended general conditions, the duration extension is calculated based on:
- Total project budget divided by original duration
- The number of calendar days the critical path is extended by the change (Correct answer)
- The longest non-critical activity added by the change
- Contractor's discretion
Correct answer: The number of calendar days the critical path is extended by the change
Extended general conditions are priced based on the critical path delay caused by the change, not total project duration or non-critical delays.
Question 6: A change order contains a 'full accord and satisfaction' clause. What does this mean for the contractor?
- The contractor can submit additional claims for the same change later
- The contractor waives the right to pursue further claims related to that change (Correct answer)
- The owner accepts all future liability for the change
- The change order price will be adjusted after final audit
Correct answer: The contractor waives the right to pursue further claims related to that change
An accord and satisfaction clause means the contractor accepts the change order payment as complete settlement, releasing all related future claims.
Question 7: In integrated change control, which document links an approved change to its effect on the project management plan?
- Variance analysis report
- Change log
- Updated project management plan reflecting approved change (Correct answer)
- Lessons learned register
Correct answer: Updated project management plan reflecting approved change
The updated project management plan formally incorporates approved changes, ensuring all subsidiary plans reflect the new baseline.
PCC Change Management 3
A contractor submits a change request citing differing site conditions.
Under which contract clause is this typically addressed?