Ekambaram, P; Love, P E D; Kumaraswamy, M M and Ng, T S T (2014) Causal ascription of rework in building and civil engineering projects: A multivariate exploration. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 21(1), pp. 111-126. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - Rework is an endemic problem in construction projects and has been identified as being a significant factor contributing cost and schedule overruns. Causal ascription is necessary to obtain knowledge about the underlying nature of rework so that appropriate prevention mechanisms can be put in place. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach - Using a supervised questionnaire survey and case-study interviews, data from 112 building and engineering projects about the sources and causes of rework in projects were obtained. A multivariate exploration was conducted to examine the underlying relationships between rework variables. Findings - The analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between rework causes for building and civil engineering projects. The set of associations explored in the analyses will be useful to develop a generic causal model to examine the quantitative impact of rework on project performance so that appropriate prevention strategies can be identified and developed. Research limitations/implications - The limitations include: small data set (112 projects), which include 75 from building and 37 from civil engineering projects. Practical implications - Meaningful insights into the rework occurrences in construction projects will pave pathways for rational mitigation and effective management measures. Originality/value - To date there has been limited empirical research that has sought to determine the causal ascription of rework, particularly in Hong Kong.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building and civil projects; causal variables; multivariate analysis; rework |
| Index terms: | methodology, exploration, construction project, mitigation, questionnaire, interview, multivariate analysis, rework, strategy, survey, project performance, prevention, Hong Kong, schedule overrun |
| Subjects: | environmental resource management, operations management, data collection methods, project controls, statistical analysis, management, research methods, Geography, production management, project management theory and practice, financial risk |
| Topics: | Time Control, Sustainability, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy |
| 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