Contract Documentation and the Incidence of Rework in Projects

Peter E.D. Love, Edith Cowan University
David J. Edwards, Loughborough University, U.K.
Jim Smith, University of Melbourne

Abstract

Within the Australian construction industry, rework has been identified as a significant factor that contributes to cost increases and project completion delays. It has been suggested that a major cause of rework relates to the quality of contract documentation that is produced by design consultants and that higher fees paid to consultants would result in improved contract documentation quality. Using a questionnaire survey, this paper determines the key contract documentation variables that influenced rework costs in 161 construction projects. Evidence from the findings presented form the basis of practical suggestions made for improving the management of the design process and the production of contract documentation in projects. However, no significant relationship between contract documentation and rework could be established from the findings presented. © 2006 Earthscan Journals