Construction Management Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Guide

As a project progresses, the ability to cost-effectively implement changes tends to decrease while costs committed to the project increase. This phenomenon occurs due to several factors inherent in project management.

Initially, during the early phases of a project, most of the project's fundamental decisions, resource allocations, and designs can be adjusted with relative ease. The cost implications of making changes at this stage are often minimal, as many aspects of the project are still flexible and not yet fully realized. However, as the project moves forward and more work has been completed, a significant portion of resources and costs become 'committed' to specific activities, materials, or schedules.

Once a project reaches the latter stages, changing elements such as design or contracts can trigger significant delays or increased costs due to the complexities involved. Modifying a structure or reordering materials often incurs additional costs that quickly surpass initial estimates. Furthermore, the operational and scheduling considerations also constrain the feasibility of implementing later changes.

Therefore, as commitments to costs escalate, the opportunity for making changes without impacting the project financially diminishes. This shift reflects the increasing rigidity within a project's framework, emphasizing the importance of thorough planning and design in the project initiation phases.