Effective Project Management

Section T Contract Completion ‐ Close Out

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Speech at the Lord Mayor's Day Luncheon, London. November 10, 1942. Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.

Project completion is often poorly defined. There is also client reluctance at taking over responsibility for the facility. Consequently, the client will try and make sure that the project is 101 per cent complete.

In the end there will, in all probability, be some minor items that it seems impossible to do. This is where the project manager will need to be involved in negotiating with the client. Do favours for the client and do a deal, swapping favours for incomplete items.

Check that all of the equipment data sheets, drawings, and so on have been reviewed and revised where necessary to incorporate all of the changes, which have been made during the commissioning phase.

Clients in building services have stated that: “The delivery of operation and maintenance manuals is the worst aspect of service because contractors leave it too late.”¹⁰

Make sure that you leave a client who has warm feelings about you and will be receptive to future visits. This will enable you to learn about any design or project changes that have been made to improve performance

After this stage the client, having spent the maximum amount of money, hopes to start receiving a return on their investment.

1 Handover of Documentation

1.1

Original drawings ...