Rework in complex offshore projects: The case of oil and gas tension leg platforms

There is little systematic knowledge available about the dynamics of rework in complex projects, despite the fact that they frequently exceed budget and schedule projections by more than 10%. To better understand pertinent issues, twenty three in-depth interviews were undertaken and sought to elicit deep individualistic knowledge about the dynamics of design changes, errors and omissions that contributed to rework in two offshore hydrocarbon projects: tension leg platforms. The causes of rework akin to previous studies that have been conducted were identified, but the underlying dynamics, relationships and consequences varied significantly. A dynamic systemic model representing the underlying conditions of rework is developed to provide managers with the necessary insights about the interdependencies and behavior between key variables. The developed model can be used to stimulate learning and process improvements for future offshore projects.