Critical factors affecting quality in building construction projects: Systematic review and meta-analysis

The occurrence of defects in recently completed construction projects in many countries has aroused public attention worldwide. Defects in construction projects are caused by a multitude of factors. Numerous studies have identified and evaluated the critical factors affecting quality in construction projects; nonetheless, no consensus has been reached regarding the factors and their level of influence. Thus, to fill this gap, this research used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and prioritized the factors quantitatively. Following the systematic review and meta-analysis, 45 critical factors were identified from 22 relevant studies. Further, heterogeneity, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. The findings show that the top seven factors leading to poor quality in construction projects include lack of communication, teamwork, and skilled workers; poor supervision; design errors; design complexity and low bid contracting. The study found very low heterogeneity confirming that ranking using the meta-analysis is reliable. This analysis revealed that project location and type, and publication types, contribute to the heterogeneity of the results. This research work contributes to the existing body of knowledge by identifying and ranking the most critical factors influencing the quality of construction projects across the globe. The stakeholders involved in the delivery of construction projects can prepare strategies for enhancing the quality of their projects based on the findings of this research.