The Relation Between Contract Type, Biggest Defects, and Building Type An Investigation of Swedish Building Construction Projects

Abstract

Defects and disturbances are significant issues in the construction industry, that they can impact on the outcome of projects. Most of organizations endeavor continuously for improving their businesses and to be more successful compared to other competitors. The aim of the study is identification of the biggest defects in the Swedish construction industry and investigation of the relation between contract type and biggest defects for different building types. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods, beside abductive approach are used. A set of secondary data are used which are collected from 313 projects through survey based on 452 telephonic interviews carried out with client and site manager in different building projects whom oversee implementing these projects from client organization. A model was suggested by authors, based on understanding of construction context. Defects are grouped in several categories based on this model, such as external, input and process defects. Two types of contracts were investigated, which are design bid build and design build contract. Thirteen different type of buildings were investigated. Discussion was made to find the relation between the three variables of the main research question, including building type, contract type and defects. A set of the biggest defects was identified that includes 35 different defects. At the end as the study result, there is relation between building type and different contract type, based on defects. This relation shows that for each building type there is contract type which is more appropriate.