The expectations, needs, risks and constraints for project performance

Abstract

Construction projects require client-contractor collaboration. Working in a collaborative manner means matching expectations and needs which would lead to satisfaction from both parties. Construction clients and contractors bear different expectations and needs and therefore satisfactory project outcomes should not just single out clients' satisfaction and negative project results should not deny satisfactory project performance. This study is to identify the expectations and needs of clients and contractors together with the barriers of risks and constraints that confine satisfaction and attempts to capture the gap expressed in qualitative data via a quantitative approach. The result indicates that perception matching is at a 44% level and the other 56% requires working out; while within that 44% there is also a difference in perception with either positive or negative values. It also shows that the client normally has higher expectation of contractors while contractors consider themselves fully meeting the clients' needs and require more involvement from the clients. As no single party is able to have 'complete' information to make 'perfect' or appropriate decisions, it concludes that mutual trust and empowerment are both important in client-contractor collaboration.