Rework in Construction: A Focus on Error and Violation

Abstract

There exists a plethora of studies that have examined the nature of rework in construction, yet it remains a problem in practice. It is proffered that the prevailing lens of error prevention that pervades practice has thwarted the ability of construction organizations to understand the context of rework causation and therefore learn from its occurrence. In this paper, a conceptualization of rework based on the manifestation of errors and violations is presented. The proposed frame of reference provides both researchers and construction organizations with a frame of reference to better understand the characteristics of rework causation. Corollaries from acquiring this understanding will be the ability to develop effective strategies to contain and reduce the manifestation of rework.