Culture of Quality in Construction: A Systematic Literature Review

Rivera M.; Neyra M.; Gomez S.; Lopez E. · Construction Research Congress 2026: Advanced Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics in Construction - Selected papers from Construction Research Congress 2026 (2026) · DOI: 10.1061/9780784486986.095

Resumen

The construction industry continues to face persistent quality challenges that impact project performance, cost, and client satisfaction. While technical systems and process controls are often emphasized, the cultural dimension of quality, meaning how people think, act, and make decisions, remains underexplored. The term "culture of quality" is used inconsistently across the literature in this industry, highlighting the need for a comprehensive synthesis to clarify and frame this concept. This paper presents a systematic literature review on culture of quality within construction, analyzing and identifying some patterns across 24 scholarly works. The review synthesizes key cultural enablers, including leadership, psychological safety, continuous improvement, values, beliefs, and assumptions. Findings reveal that, although culture of quality is recognized as vital, research remains fragmented, with few studies offering integrated frameworks or practical strategies specific to the construction context. This review contributes a conceptual map of core themes and gaps, offering recommendations for future research and practical implementation pathways to foster a robust culture of quality in construction environments. © ASCE.