Variation or change procedures in construction contracts are common although take many forms. Often they are drafted in order to allow the Employer to manage the risk of informal changes issued on site and resulting in delays or additional cost. Some are prescriptive in their requirements with a set of steps required as a condition precedent to any change instructions being valid. However, the operation of these provisions in practice can often be different to the letter of the contract, for example, informal discussions on site or in meetings where change is 'instructed' notwithstanding the provisions and then acted upon, followed by disputes as to entitlement to payment for work undertaken as a result. This session will consider how these clauses operate in practice, how they can be used and abused and what are the rights and obligations of the parties in these circumstances.