CVI: A web-based "control of variation instructions system"

An effective cost management system should be supported by tools that can update cost pictures and enable timely action. Cost control systems for the purposes of budgetary control and value engineering have been improved during recent years and have been instrumental to building clients in keeping their construction projects within budget. However, one of the major areas where considerable rooms for improvement exist is the control of variation instructions. Variations are inevitable in building projects as the construction processes are extremely complex, coupled with increasing demand for fast track construction. As such, building clients have been developing different types of cost control system to keep variations under control. However, these are mainly manual paper-based methods and hence not effective in catching up with the rapid pace of the construction process. CVI is a cost control system that has been developed by a major developer in Hong Kong. CVI utilizes advancement In Information Technology, the accessibility of the World Wide Web and builds on Team Work to achieve control of variation instructions. It provides a web-based platform for project team members to control post-contract variations effectively by shortening and unifying the communication channel and allows team members to contribute according to their roles and specialties in an efficient and effective way. The quick response capability of the system and the comprehensive reporting mechanism make it possible to eliminate the drawbacks that may arise from hasty instructions that are inevitable in the fast track construction process.