Which phase-related cost issue is most likely to arise from poor upfront planning?

• A. Design Development Overruns
• B. Budget Approval Bottlenecks
• C. Closeout Delays
• D. Operations, Maintenance, and Service Delivery

Answer: (C)

Upfront planning sets how the project will be wrapped up. If that planning is incomplete, the closeout phase—where all final documentation, warranties, as-built drawings, O&M manuals, staff training, punch lists, and sign‑offs are completed—tends to stall. When closeout activities drag, you incur extra costs from extended site time, continued supervision, possible penalties, and delayed final payments or retainage release. The end of the project carries the burden of finishing everything correctly and on time, so poor early planning most clearly shows up as delays in closeout. Other phases can experience overruns or bottlenecks, but the financial impact tied to incomplete planning is most directly felt at project closeout.