What is a change directive and when is it used in construction administration?

• A. A unilateral written directive issued to adjust scope/time/cost when an agreement on price is not yet reached.
• B. A directive to stop work due to safety concerns.
• C. A change order that has been agreed upon.
• D. A directive to hire new staff.

Answer: (A)

A change directive is a unilateral written instruction issued to the contractor to adjust the scope, time, or cost of the work when the parties have not yet reached agreement on the price. It lets the project proceed with the required change while negotiations on price and schedule are ongoing, with the understanding that the change will be formalized later through a change order. This keeps the project moving without waiting for price negotiations to finish. The other options describe different concepts: stopping work for safety is a stop-work order, a change order that has been agreed is an approved adjustment with price, and hiring new staff is unrelated to contractual changes in the scope of work.