Sharma, N and Laishram, B (2025) Decoding the emergent patterns of cost of quality through the lens of sociotechnical systems: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(4): 03125002, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In the construction industry, projects are characterized by their unique attributes and complex nature, giving rise to substantial issues in attaining high-quality standards. Such issues emanate from the intrinsic complexities and dynamic characteristics of quality management (QM) processes. Ineffectively quantifying QM issues such as rework can lead to additional costs and time delays, highlighting the importance of effective QM methods such as cost of quality (COQ). Even though there is a plethora of information available on COQ within the manufacturing industry, the construction industry has been relatively slow in adopting effective COQ due to its dynamic nature. In order to implement COQ into the construction industry, an organizational analysis of the current state of COQ is required. To gain a deeper understanding of the emergent patterns of COQ in the construction industry, it is imperative to perform a comprehensive and systematic review utilizing the sociotechnical system (STS) theory. This theory explains how the alignment between social and technological systems of COQ, as well as external demands, can influence organizational performance. Therefore, a bibliometric review was carried out utilizing 57 peer-reviewed papers that were obtained from the Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and EBSCOhost databases. The present study utilizes various tools, including VOSviewer, Mendeley, and Excel, to facilitate bibliometric analysis and categorize clusters/patterns under technical and social themes. The most identified clusters using the VOSviewer were (1) COQ, (2) PAF (prevention-Appraisal-failure), (3) top management, (4) training, (5) motivation, and (6) rework. This study offers valuable insights to both researchers and industry practitioners with regard to the current patterns of COQ in the construction industry, enabling them to devise effective strategies for the optimum cost and quality through the utilization of the framework. To this end, the study recommends the involvement of top management in training programs and motivation initiatives. By doing so, organizations can take proactive measures to enhance their cost management strategies, thus improving their overall performance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bibliometric; construction industry; cost of quality; issues; quality management |
| Index terms: | strategy, practitioner, appraisal, bibliometric analysis, quality standard, organizational performance, rework, complexity, motivation, construction industry, quality management, systematic literature review, cost management, manufacturing industry, time delay, top management, program, database, prevention, science, organizational analysis |
| Subjects: | factor and component analysis, business, practitioner, performance measurement, quality assurance, specialized education, software systems, systems engineering, data management, project controls, management, accounting and finance, financial risk, operations management, research evaluation and metrics, industry analysis, psychology |
| Topics: | Education, Organizational Design, Cost Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Time Control, Business Strategy, Quality Management, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here