CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2022 · Vol. 2022, Issue 1

Project close-out report: Emerging contractors' state of compliance

Ayodeji Olatunji Aiyetan and Chikezirim Okorafor

Keywords: Close-out, contractor, construction, emerging, performance

Abstract

A project close-out report summarises the completed project, compares baseline plans and actual performance, and compiles project metrics, lessons learned and input from stakeholders. All these contribute to the success of the construction project. Following the numerous complaints of emerging contractors in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa underperforming. Various academics have stated that practitioners disregard project close-out reports, considering them to be overburdening and useless. To this end, a quantitative research was carried out amongst selected emerging contractors in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, to determine the state of compliance to this exercise. Notably, the study revealed that most elements were not always practised such as the degree to which the original objectives have been met, comparison between original (budgeted) cost and actual final cost and major changes incorporated due to internal modifications were occasionally practised. Elements such as the degree to which the original key performance indicators (KPIs) had been achieved, compliance with the project brief (business case) and performance of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers were rarely practised amongst the participants. These findings have implications on emerging contractors, providing evidence suggesting a dearth in their quest to enhance contractors' competitiveness and overall sustainability.