Identifying and Analyzing the Correlations and Inter-Causalities of the Root Causes of Construction Defects

Understanding defect causalities is indispensable to its prevention. This paper aims to identify the correlations and inter-causalities amongst the root causes of construction defects, so as to obtain insights about the complex mechanics of defect causation and assist in developing effective defect prevention strategies. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey of 106 professionals in the construction industry. Correlations and inter-causalities analysis showed that time pressure, financial constraints and organizational culture were the most influential root causes.