What can extensive change orders in contracts at cost indicate?

Extensive change orders in contracts can indeed indicate profitability challenges in the project. Change orders typically arise when there are modifications to the original scope of work, which can lead to unforeseen costs. When a project encounters numerous change orders, it suggests that the initial planning, estimation, or understanding of the project scope may have been inadequate, potentially leading to budget overruns and impacting the overall profitability.

In a well-managed project, the aim is to minimize changes by having a clear and thoroughly defined project scope. When there are significant change orders, it may signal that the project's initial budget did not anticipate certain challenges or that market conditions have led to increased costs. Therefore, a high volume of change orders is often a red flag regarding financial performance, indicating it may be struggling to remain within the expected profit margins.