This field selects, how this parameter is altered, when a child project overrides its value. For example, you may provide a variable "A" here with the value "Foo", while a child also defines "A", but with the value "Bar".

The mode that you select here will influence the final value of the parameter, when you build the child:

Do note, that this field only has an effect on the child parameter — not the other way around. In other words, this mode decides what will happen in the future, not what happens "now" to the current or earlier overrides.