Minimising Scope Creep and Change Requests in Fixed-Price Contracts: ‎The Role of Traditional (Plan-Driven) Project Management in Oil and Gas ‎Construction Projects

Abstract

Scope creep and change requests are challenges in fixed-price projects because additional requirements can increase cost, extend schedules, and generate contractual disputes without corresponding adjustments to agreed price. This study examines the principal causes and interacting drivers of scope creep in traditional, plan-driven project management, with particular attention to upstream construction and oil and gas projects. A qualitative literature-based analytical approach was applied to studies addressing fixed-price and lump-sum contracting, scope definition, tendering, stakeholder engagement, communication, contract documentation, negotiation, and risk allocation. The analysis identified poorly defined scope, inadequate tender documentation, weak communication and stakeholder engagement, ambiguous contract provisions, rapid negotiation, low-price bidding, weak risk allocation, governmental intervention, and limited engineering experience as contributors. The reviewed case evidence indicates that these factors are interdependent rather than isolated. In particular, fast-track negotiation can amplify incomplete requirements, weak tender documentation, rushed decision-making, and insufficient stakeholder participation, creating conditions in which later change requests become more likely. Effective communication and early stakeholder involvement provide mechanisms for clarifying requirements and reducing misalignment before contract execution. Clear contractual provisions for scope changes, together with explicit and balanced risk allocation, can further reduce disputes and uncontrolled scope expansion. The study proposes an integrated scope-management framework in which thorough scope definition, comprehensive tender documentation, structured negotiation, stakeholder engagement, contractual clarity, risk monitoring, and disciplined change control operate as mutually reinforcing measures. The findings provide practical guidance for improving fixed-price project governance in construction and oil and gas environments, while highlighting the need for empirical validation through data.