ABSTRACT
The amount of documents and records produced within the information process during the course of a construction project is overwhelming. Consequently, proper management of these documents and records is of key importance regarding efficiency and quality management in the construction industry. This study is concerned with the status of records management practice among small and medium building firms in Nigeria. It examines the problems and challenges in the implementation of the record management practice by the building firms. The major problems the small and medium building firms are facing in record management practice include, among others, is that records are not well organized to provide a competent business environment; capturing of records for sharing among wider team is expensive; time wasting in searching and retrieval of records; poor storage system; requiring large space to store voluminous records; information and technology (IT) facilities available to manage records are expensive and require high skill to operate. The aim of the study is therefore to develop a prototype electronic document and record management (EDRM) system for managing records in small and medium building firms with a view to enhancing project records management practices. The research adopted a combination of methodologies using both quantitative and qualitative techniques that uses case study methodology, together with a literature review to identify challenges that hinder the efficient implementation of good record management practice. Structured questionnaires were administered to identify practice in records management through which the requirements for EDRMS was captured.