Causes of Reworks in Projects: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

Rework is a critical issue the construction sector has faced from time immemorial, significantly impacting the performance and sometimes even the relevance of construction projects. Studying the causes of reworks to address this menace and its ramifications has become necessary for those working in the construction sector. Even though studies have tried to uncover the factors that cause reworks in construction projects, it still remains a most significant and often ignored or concealed problem in the construction sector. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors that lead to reworks in the construction projects. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the causes of reworks in the construction projects. Forty-five research papers were selected following the protocols and procedures for a systematic literature review. After analyzing the papers, important causes of rework in construction projects were discovered, and they were categorized into six groups. This systematic literature review suggests the directions for future research in reworks that affect construction projects and emphasizes the need for more empirical studies to find solutions to minimize reworks.