Abstract
This research is an exploratory and descriptive study of the variation orders, as one of the most important issues and variables acting in Saudi construction management. The researcher tried to achieve five objectives, Which are: identifying the main active stakeholders in the variation orders, to determine to what extend they affect the variation orders, how the variation orders are priced, monitoring and identifying the most important activities that cause the variation orders, and to identify the most important aspects on how the variation orders affect the management of construction projects.
To achieve the objectives above, the researcher conducted a field study, which relied on a sample survey approach to obtain the required data. The researcher applied the field study using 256 samples from the field of governmental construction management.
The research found a number of results, of which:
• The owner of the project was in the first place as the stakeholder that starts the variation orders.
• Original contract item pricing is the most common way to calculate the value of the variation orders.
• To refrain from execution, while awaiting the written permitting comes in the first place, as a method of practice in the execution of variation orders.
• That the project's owner is the most effective stakeholder that makes the variation order executable.
• Architectural works are most common cases in which the variation orders are repeated in a manner that is greater than all the other cases
