0
  • DE
  • EN
  • FR
  • International Database and Gallery of Structures

Advertisement

Learning from defects in the UK housing sector using action research

A case study of a housing association

Author(s):



Medium: journal article
Language(s): English
Published in: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, , n. 8, v. 26
Page(s): 1608-1624
DOI: 10.1108/ecam-04-2018-0146
Abstract:

Purpose

Maximising the benefit of learning from defects is regarded by UK housing associations (HAs) as a key opportunity to meet their challenges of building more homes with reduced government funding and rent incomes. Despite learning from defects being a frequent recommendation to reduce defects in the construction literature, there is scarce empirical evidence into how HAs actually learn from defects. The purpose of this paper is to better understand how HAs learn from past defects and induce change to reduce defects.

Design/methodology/approach

Guided by organisational learning (OL) as the theoretical lens, a 21-month action research (AR) project explored one HA’s defects management and learning processes.

Findings

OL has the potential to reduce defects in new homes but is a secondary task which is reliant on a defects management team analysing defect data to identify priority areas. As such, learning from defects can be reduced due to peaks in workload if data analysis is a manual process. Furthermore, a dual learning approach plays a significant role for HA’s learning consisting of designing out defects (codification) supported by networking (personalisation) to tackle issues of workmanship on site and those defects that cannot be designed out.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates OL has the potential to reduce defects in new homes but is a secondary task in HA’s practice; and highlights the practical challenges of academia and industry co-production in AR in construction.

Structurae cannot make the full text of this publication available at this time. The full text can be accessed through the publisher via the DOI: 10.1108/ecam-04-2018-0146.
  • About this
    data sheet
  • Reference-ID
    10576802
  • Published on:
    26/02/2021
  • Last updated on:
    26/02/2021
 
Structurae cooperates with
International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)
e-mosty Magazine
e-BrIM Magazine