To cite this paper: Norizan Ahmad, Irwan Ismadi Masaout and Faridah Ismail (2011), Assessing the Performance of Client during the briefing process in Malaysia: Case study Universiti Teknologi MARA, Six International Conference on Construction in the 21 st Century (CITC-VI) “Construction Challenges in the New Decade” July 5-7, 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: (Norizan et. al. 2011) Six International Conference on Construction in the 21 st Century (CITC-VI) “Construction Challenges in the New Decade” July 5-7, 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ASSESSING THE PERFORMENCE OF CLIENTS DURING THE BRIEFING PROCESS IN MALAYSIA: CASE STUDY UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA Norizan Ahmad Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, (norizan712@salam.uitm.edu.my) Irwan Ismadi Masout (Facilities Management Office, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, (irwan_im@yahoo.com) Faridah Ismail Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor,Malaysia (farid346@salam.uitm.edu.my) Abstract In the briefing process, the client‟s requirements for the proposed building are communicated. This process informs decision making, especially with regard to forming the objectives and definition of the project formulation. The objectives and definition of the project are important since they provide direction and are essential for successful outcomes of the project. The clients are responsible for determining and communicating their requirements to other project participants and leading them in transforming those requirements into a completed building. Therefore the performance of clients during the briefing process is crucial. This paper describes the ongoing research carried out at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), which is continuously involved in implementing construction projects for their 24 (twenty-four) campuses nationwide. It presents the conceptual framework of the research and the findings of the pilot study carried out on such construction projects. Semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey on 17 mixed-development projects for various faculties within the university were administered. The data was obtained from both the client‟s representatives and consultant Architects involved in the projects. Three categories of clients‟ performance were investigated namely, quality, brief management efforts and commitment of the clients‟ organization. The findings highlight the current p erformances of clients during the briefing process and their impact on project success in terms of time, cost and functionality. Keywords Briefing Process, Client’s Performance, Project Success, Construction Project 1. Introduction The briefing process, the initial phase of a construction project, is associated with a high level of uncertainty with regard to the lack of information on the client‟s requirements. Completeness of information about the client‟s requirements is most important to reduce the ris k of mis-interpretation by