Showing papers in "Facilities in 2009"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the historical development of POE in order to provide a contextual backdrop to current discussions, and present the benefits accrued by stakeholders in the building procurement process.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper explores the historical development of POE in order to provide a contextual backdrop to current discussions.Design/methodology/approach – This paper attempts to establish what POE is and does, and explores POE methodologies.Findings – This paper concludes that the fact that this topic is extensively discussed highlights a growing frustration with the lack of progress toward POE becoming a mainstream activity in the process of building procurement. Other findings include POE's exclusion from professional curricula; who pays for POE? And issues with professional liability and its contribution to this lack of use.Practical implications – The paper presents the benefits accrued by stakeholders in the building procurement process, and the barriers to the adoption of POE that need to be addressed.Originality/value – This literature review suggests that despite the trials and tribulations, POE has progressed from a one dimensional feedback process to a multidimensional process that, as an in...
150 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define facilities management and innovation in generic business contexts and critically discuss the role of innovation in facilities management service delivery, and suggest that innovation in FM is given appropriate empowerment and a platform within the boundaries of the organisation's total innovation agenda.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define facilities management and innovation in generic business contexts and critically discuss the role of innovation in facilities management service delivery.Design/methodology/approach – The research adopts a comprehensive literature review from numerous published sources. All related references were discovered through electronic databases, journals and books.Findings – FM is capable of contributing towards organisational success if it is given the opportunity to exploit new ideas and perform innovative activities that are regularly measured and integrated within the overall business goals or an organisation. To achieve this, it is essential that innovation in FM is given appropriate empowerment and a platform within the boundaries of the organisation's total innovation agenda.Research limitations/implications – There are limited literature materials which focused on service innovation particularly in the context of facilities management and its service delive...
100 citations
TL;DR: A theoretical framework linking different built environment characteristics to health outcomes is proposed, which provides a structure to group causal effects according to their relation with design features, materials and ambient properties, art and aesthetic aspects and use of the built environment.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework that categorises the features and characteristics of the built environment that impact on health outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review was carried out. A total of 1,163 abstracts were assessed, leading to 92 papers being reviewed.Findings – There is a considerable amount of evidence linking healthcare environments to patients' health outcomes, despite the lack of clarity in relation to cause‐effect relationships.Originality/value – The paper proposes a theoretical framework linking different built environment characteristics to health outcomes. This framework provides a structure to group causal effects according to their relation with design features, materials and ambient properties, art and aesthetic aspects and use of the built environment.
97 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present previous studies and reports which have shown that most school buildings in the USA suffer from inadequate physical conditions, and they identify and analyze how facilities maintenance is planned, managed and carried out by large public schools in the State of Texas, USA.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present previous studies and reports which have shown that most school buildings in the USA suffer from inadequate physical conditions. As American school buildings become “older”, it is essential for every school district to have an effective facilities maintenance management plan of its facilities. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to identify and analyze how facilities maintenance is planned, managed and carried out by large public schools in the State of Texas, USA.Design/methodology/approach – Guidelines taken from the literature drove the development of a survey questionnaire, which was sent to 320 school facilities managers from four major metropolitan areas in Texas. Elementary, middle and high schools with enrollments of 750 students or more were selected from the Texas Education Agency's web site. The responses were received in a secure database established at an online web site, where participants' identities were kept confidential.Findings –...
67 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the daily activities of building operators and how they mediate between end-users and technological systems in order to make their buildings energy efficient are analyzed, which calls into question approaches which focus on either the behavioral or the technical side of a building's energy consumption.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper analyses the daily activities of building operators and how they mediate between end‐users and technological systems in order to make “their” buildings energy efficient.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data consists of four selected cases of non‐residential buildings of different sizes.Findings – The paper argues that building operators have the possibility of improving energy efficiency with or without extensive user involvement and with or without advanced technological systems.Originality/value – Starting from the practitioners' point of view a new perspective on the link between facilities management and energy efficiency emerges, which calls into question approaches which focus on either the behavioral or the technical side of a building's energy consumption.
56 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the use of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) to address this gap by considering the influence of occupant behaviour on performance and found that much of the existing commercial building stock in Western Australia has the ability to adapt to varying conditions such as climate change.
Abstract: Purpose – Much of the existing commercial building stock in Western Australia has the ability to adapt to varying conditions such as climate change, which provides some potential for reusability and sustainability. Current sustainability assessment systems tend to be relevant only for new construction. The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) to address this gap by considering the influence of occupant behaviour on performance.Design/methodology/approach – Feedback provided from 39 stakeholders during a public review of NABERS and a subsequent trial of NABERS on nine office buildings in Sydney and Victoria are examined. The data are obtained from the Department of Environment and Heritage and NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (now the Department of Environment and Climate Change).Findings – Assessment of the environment performance of existing facilities is needed to improve their energy efficiency. These findi...
53 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a new knowledge-based legitimisation for facilities management is proposed, marking a new direction for the field of facilities management, which will facilitate its acceptance as a strategically placed corporate function.
Abstract: Purpose – Facilities management has inherited the understanding of how organisations work as value creators from various management models such as Porter's, where value is created through “primary” and “support” activities. The gap between the aspiration of strategic relevance and reality has prompted the facilities management profession to begin to address the question of whether facilities management is a legitimate discipline with attendant theories, research and practice. This paper attempts to bring an alternative theoretical perspective to such aspirations.Design/methodology/approach – Facilities management arrangements and their value as a key organisational competence are outlined. Finally knowledge‐based functional competency is described that encapsulates the new perspective.Findings – The paper provides an alternative perspective that will facilitate its acceptance as a strategically placed corporate function. A new knowledge‐based legitimisation for facilities management is proposed, marking a...
49 citations
TL;DR: A case study analysis of an Israeli acute care hospital is presented, in which the integrated healthcare facilities management model (IHFMM) was implemented, and the findings were examined and evaluated three years later.
Abstract: Purpose – Increasing demand for healthcare services world‐wide creates continuous requirements to reduce expenditures on “non‐core” activities, such as maintenance and operations. At the same time, owners, users, and clients of healthcare expect a high level of built‐facilities performance and minimized risks. The objective of this research is to develop an integrated facilities management (FM) model for healthcare facilities.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a case study analysis of an Israeli acute care hospital, in which the integrated healthcare facilities management model (IHFMM) was implemented, and the findings were examined and evaluated three years later. The case studies investigated the effectiveness of the developed model in terms of maintenance and performance management. The robustness of the model was also examined by applying sensitivity analyses to its parameters.Findings – Both of the case studies show significant results in predicting FM‐related aspects, such as the level...
45 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a study of the general practices of knowledge management in property management firms in Hong Kong was undertaken, which described the notion of knowledge and knowledge management and investigated the norms of property professionals in acquiring, sharing and reusing knowledge in their daily practices.
Abstract: Purpose – In the knowledge economy, the management of knowledge is important because the value of corporations and individuals is directly related to their knowledge and intellectual capital. This is especially true for real estate management, which is of increasing concern to the public and plays an important role in the property market today. This paper aims to show the nature of property professionals' acquisition, sharing and reuse of knowledge in their work.Design/methodology/approach – To better understand the practices of knowledge management (KM) currently employed by property management firms, a study of the general practices of knowledge management in property management firms in Hong Kong was undertaken. This study described the notion of knowledge and knowledge management and investigated the norms of property professionals in acquiring, sharing and reusing knowledge in their daily practices. It also analyzed the relationship between size of firms and methods of knowledge acquisition and shari...
45 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the first stage of primary research undertaken to establish generic customer satisfaction benchmarks for the facilities management (FM) industry, and test whether the benchmarks can be strategically implemented into individual FM provider organisations to further enhance their existing performance measurement processes and subsequent service provision.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the first stage of primary research undertaken to establish generic customer satisfaction benchmarks for the facilities management (FM) industry, and test whether the benchmarks can be strategically implemented into individual FM provider organisations to further enhance their existing performance measurement processes and subsequent service provision.Design/methodology/approach – The study proposes the development of a conceptual framework, the Customer Performance Measurement System (CPMS). The CPMS consists of four stages, and uses a mixed methodological strategy. This paper provides the findings from the first stage of the CPMS, to establish generic customer satisfaction benchmarks for the FM industry. This is undertaken through two annual customer satisfaction surveys in 2007 and 2008 across the UK and Ireland.Findings – The paper establishes customer satisfaction benchmarks for individual FM services. The benchmarks identify trends bet...
41 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify general characteristics of refurbishment projects and problems arising in Malaysian context and find that the major problem in refurbishment project are inconsistence in client's needs and projects exceed targeted costs and times.
Abstract: Purpose – The main objectives of this paper are to identify general characteristics of refurbishment projects and problems arise in Malaysian context.Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative and qualitative approaches using postal questionnaire survey and semi‐structured interviews were used in data collection. A total of 1,552 questionnaire sets sent to professional architects.Findings – The results show that the majority of refurbishment projects in Malaysia involved residential and office types of building with contract value less than RM500,000.00 (USD 150,000.00). Some of major problem in refurbishment projects are inconsistence in client's needs, refurbishment projects exceed targeted costs and times.Research limitations/implications – The literature search and survey results showed that systematic studies into the refurbishment were relatively sparse. Therefore, more detail study gear towards refurbishment area is needed for Malaysian construction industry in the future. The findings provide gene...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the institutional compliance framework for transferring environmental sustainability regulations from Singapore to China, with a view to possibly transferring these regulations as well as the supporting green technologies, codes and practices to the joint Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Project in the PRC.
Abstract: Purpose
– The Sino‐Singapore Tianjin Eco‐city Project, the agreement of which was signed in 2007, is an important milestone that would further cement ties between Singapore and the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Eco‐city Project will be used to showcase the latest green technologies adopted in buildings with a view to reducing the adverse effects of global warming, carbon emissions, and climate change; leading in the process to sustainable facilities. The purpose of this paper is to examine the institutional compliance framework for transferring environmental sustainability regulations from Singapore to China.
Design/methodology/approach
– The paper examines the current environmental sustainability regulations that are already in place in Singapore, with a view to possibly transfer these regulations as well as the supporting green technologies, codes and practices to the joint Sino‐Singapore Eco‐city Project in the PRC. The study proposes an understanding of the institutional compliance framework to facilitate this transfer.
Findings
– There are existing statutory provisions within the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) in the PRC that encourage the use of solar and renewable energy with a view to fostering sustainable construction, including provisions dealing with water pollution. However, beyond these generic areas, it appears that statutory provisions within the MEP do not institutionalize the same level of details that can be found in Singapore relating to the conceptualization, design and construction of sustainable facilities. Hence, transfer of such provisions from Singapore to the Tianjin Eco‐city Project can be facilitated through an understanding of the institutional compliance framework from the Chinese side.
Research limitations/implications
– The environmental sustainability regulations that are already in place in Singapore will be examined in the paper. The study explains the reasons why these regulations were implemented in Singapore, and the framework within which such provisions may be transferred to the Tianjin Eco‐city Project.
Practical implications
– The paper observes that while the legal systems in both Singapore and the PRC may be different, it would be strategic and expedient for the Chinese partners in the Eco‐city joint project to familiarize themselves with the environmental sustainability regulations within Singapore's jurisdiction with a view to possibly adopting them in the PRC through the institutional compliance framework.
Originality/value
– Singapore is probably the first and only country in the world to enact building regulations pertaining to environmental sustainability with attendant inputs from an appropriate Code for Environmental Sustainability of Buildings and the Green Mark Scheme. The successful completion of the Tianjin Eco‐city Project could provide a role model for further development of Eco‐cities in the world, leading to greater emphasis to be placed on sustainable facilities anchored on the institutional compliance framework.
TL;DR: The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the need for benefits‐driven programme/project management as well as the importance of identifying the stakeholders' level of involvement and contribution throughout the process, and manage their expectations.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to focus on the requirements to manage change, tangible and intangible benefits in a joint approach to deliver outputs on time, to quality and cost without failing to realise the benefits of the change. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the need for benefits‐driven programme/project management as well as the importance of identifying the stakeholders' level of involvement and contribution throughout the process, and manage their expectations.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used is based on an action research approach, combining findings from a literature review and case studies within UK's primary healthcare sector.Findings – Findings demonstrate development of a Benefits Realisation (BeReal) approach in healthcare through looking at case studies taking place within UK's primary and acute healthcare sector.Research limitations/implications – The framework development is based on theoretical evidence and further research is needed to test and validate its robus...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how facilities management suppliers can add value to their clients by investigating client perceptions as well as the supplier perceptions, and search for gaps between the two.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how facilities management (FM) suppliers can add value to their clients. It investigates client perceptions as well as the supplier perceptions, and searches for gaps between the two.Design/methodology/approach – A literature search on client value sheds light onto key issues. The literature search is used to design semi‐structured interviews for four large clients' organisations and one major FM supplier, both at operational and strategic levels. A total of eight client managers and six supplier managers participated in 1.5 hours interviews.Findings – There is a difference in perception between operational managers and senior managers, both at the clients' organisations and the FM supplier. There are areas which are more significant for clients than suppliers. These include the issues such as: trust and provision of timely management information and management reporting.Research limitations/implications – As with any case study the sample size is limited....
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper is to examine the typical factors in a construction project as regards customer satisfaction and reveals seven similar but nevertheless different clusters.
Abstract: Purpose – Construction is often a long‐term project described as a dynamic and complex entity. This is one of the factors making the assessment of construction quality so difficult. The actors in the field of construction need versatile and systematic data about the quality of the construction process and the building in order to be able to operate in a customer‐oriented manner and develop their own operations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the typical factors in a construction project as regards customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – The cluster analysis differentiating between projects in this paper is conducted with a total of 831 construction projects.Findings – The paper reveals seven similar but nevertheless different clusters. What the best clusters as regards customer satisfaction has in common is that the management's professional skills and the cooperation methods are successful when compared to other areas of the cluster. Additionally, good cooperation methods predict goo...
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of age, gender, previous experience of space and cultural background on people's chosen spatial location for privacy in multi-bed wards was investigated by using space syntax analysis (VGA).
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explore preference for privacy among people with different demographic and cultural backgrounds. In particular the study aims to investigate the effect of age, gender, previous experience of space and cultural background on people's chosen spatial location for privacy in multi‐bed wards.Design/methodology/approach – A group of 79 subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire on privacy and to select preferred and disliked locations on plans of hospital wards. Spatial data were provided by space syntax analysis (VGA). Possible subgroups in the data were investigated by tests of difference and latent class analysis applied to those spatial attributes which appeared to be relevant to people's preferences on locations for privacy.Findings – The results show that privacy regulation encompasses universal and specific aspects across cultures, age, gender and previous experience of space. Specifically, the results suggest a universal preference for spatial location of...
TL;DR: In this article, a comparative analysis of CAFM implementation projects and procedures in the German-speaking countries is presented, in order to derive appropriate implementation models and to compare the state-of-the-art in different application fields.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research is a comparative analysis of computer‐aided facilties management (CAFM) implementation projects and procedures in the German‐speaking countries in order to derive appropriate implementation models. Since the 1990s CAFM has provided efficient information technology (IT) tools for mapping, evaluation and control of facility management (FM) structures and processes. Despite the multitude of vendors and users in different branches, there is still a lack of transparent and systematic case studies regarding successful CAFM implementations and uncertainty about the market situation.Design/methodology/approach – In the survey a systematic approach (structured interviews) was used allowing a comparison between cases in different application fields. Because of the geographical location of the project partners, the entire German speaking area could be covered and thus the results of the analysis reflect the state of the art of CAFM implementation and use in the German‐speaking ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the time-cost relationship proposed by Bromilow with data from construction projects in Korea and found that the original time cost model is not the best fit regression form, and alternative models were proposed.
Abstract: Purpose – Time is an important factor in any project, especially in construction projects. Although using detailed scheduling techniques is unavoidable, a model to predict or benchmark time performance has interested many researchers. For an exploratory purpose, this paper aims to investigate the time‐cost relationship proposed by Bromilow with data from construction projects in Korea.Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from 34 historical building projects in Korea. Construction cost is adjusted using a building price index. Analysis is carried out on variety of project characteristics.Findings – It is shown that a time‐cost relationship is applicable to the Korean construction industry. Further analysis indicates that the original Bromilow time‐cost model is not the best fit regression form, and alternative models are proposed.Research limitations/implications – The data are limited to a small sample of 34 building projects. This limitation arises because of the data collection approach,...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the concepts of intelligent buildings (IBs), and the opportunities offered by the application of computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) systems, and find that 46 per cent of respondents use a CAFM system with a majority agreeing on the potential of CAFM in delivering effective facilities.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the concepts of intelligent buildings (IBs), and the opportunities offered by the application of computer‐aided facilities management (CAFM) systems.Design/methodology/approach – In this paper definitions of IBs are investigated, particularly definitions that are embracing open standards for effective operational change, using a questionnaire survey. The survey further investigated the extension of CAFM to IBs concepts and the opportunities that such integrated systems will provide to facilities management (FM) professionals.Findings – The results showed variation in the understanding of the concept of IBs and the application of CAFM. The survey showed that 46 per cent of respondents use a CAFM system with a majority agreeing on the potential of CAFM in delivery of effective facilities.Research limitations/implications – The questionnaire survey results are limited to the views of the respondents within the context of FM in the UK.Practical implication...
TL;DR: In this article, a set of valid and reliable performance indicators to evaluate the environmental quality of a project in order to minimise the adverse impacts of urban renewal projects on the environment is developed.
Abstract: Purpose – This study is a follow‐up to the previous studies undertaken by the authors. The paper aims to develop a set of valid and reliable performance indicators to evaluate the environmental quality of a project in order to minimise the adverse impacts of urban renewal projects on the environment.Design/methodology/approach – First, a brief introduction to the most critical environmentally sustainable factors that should be considered when planning an urban renewal project is provided. Then this study identifies criteria for the selection of indicators, and develops appropriate indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for six major environmental design criteria through a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from industry and academia.Findings – This study proposes a set of environmental performance indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for the assessment model derived in a previous study. A total of 12 indicators have been developed for six...
TL;DR: The results suggest that most residents are willing to pay for healthy building parameters, each with a different value, which gives a direct appraisal of the occupants' value.
Abstract: Purpose – After the outbreak of the disease of “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)” in Asia in 2003, a healthy living environment is a major concern. The purpose of this paper is to study the value of healthy building parameters by the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), which gives a direct appraisal of the occupants' value.Design/methodology/approach – Healthy building parameters were identified in previous studies. Questionnaires are distributed to residents of a large‐scale high‐rise private housing estate in Hong Kong to find out their willingness to pay (WTP) for individual healthy building parameters.Findings – The results suggest that most residents are willing to pay for healthy building parameters, each with a different value.Research limitations/implications – The paper is limited to studying the eight identified building parameters for healthy buildings. The sample of the study is confined in a private housing estate only and all the occupants are middle class citizens of Hong Kong. The r...
Abstract: Purpose – Literature review indicates that Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) practicing during the first ten years of LEED in the building industry hold perceptions that have influenced the adoption of LEED. These perceptions may include that some LEED credit points are more difficult to obtain than others, LEED projects have higher first costs, and LEED projects have higher levels of complexity. The literature also indicates that the relationship between these three topics merits research attention, in an effort to discover the magnitude of those perceptions. This paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Both self-administered questionnaires and interviews are utilized to secure information directly from practitioners. Out of a pool of 8,000 possible interviewees, a total of 102 qualified respondents participated in the cross-sectional survey. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software is used to analyze the data derived from the survey information and to arrive at conclusions. Findings – The survey identify which LEED credit points are perceived by LEED APs as more difficult, as contributing to higher initial costs and as increasing project complexity. The conclusions indicate a trend toward a higher adoption rate of points that are perceived as having lower initial costs and a lower level of complexity. These findings are primarily due to two reasons: increased cost in managing project documentation; and increased cost in project complexity. Originality/value – The results of this study can be used by designers, construction professionals, and facility managers who are involved in new construction projects. The trends in credit point adoption, and the professionals’ perceptions of their initial cost and level of complexity, may encourage others to consider using systems that introduce sustainability concepts into their design and construction process.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors adapted the news vendor problem in yield management to the space sharing problem and proposed a mathematical model to identify the optimum capacity for specified values of input variables.
Abstract: Purpose – Low utilisation is observed in many buildings and space‐sharing is often identified as a facilities management response, but uncertainty about demand makes it difficult to decide how much shared accommodation to provide. The purpose of this paper is to analyse similar problems in the discipline of yield management, a branch of operations research.Design/methodology/approach – The “newsvendor problem” in yield management is adapted and applied the to the space‐sharing problem. The mathematical model identifies the optimum capacity for specified values of input variables. The model is illustrated with worked examples for systematic variation in three factors: the average demand (three values), the penalty cost ratio (six values), and demand uncertainty (three values).Findings – The optimum capacity for shared accommodation can be mathematically determined. It varies considerably with the case‐specific values given to input variables. Three “principles of optimality” are defined that apply to optim...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a methodology for assessing end-user experiences of workplace environments and propose an "experience sheet" as a way to illustrate the findings, which is then tested in a case environment.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to present a methodology for assessing end‐user experiences of workplace environments and proposes an “experience sheet” as a way to illustrate the findings.Design/methodology/approach – In the theoretical part, the article combines understanding from post‐occupancy evaluations in the facilities management field with service process audits in the hospitability sector. This methodology is then tested in a case environment.Findings – The findings suggest that the methodology and the experience sheet provide a usable and interesting way of assessing user experience in the workplace environment.Practical implications – This article offers an illustrative way to understand user experience in workplace environments, and through that helps in improving existing working environments and in creating new ones.Originality/value – This article combines theoretical understanding in a cross‐disciplinary manner in a novel way, and through that introduces a usable method for workplace improvemen...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess the role of computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) in the delivery of knowledge management solutions and highlight the increasing problem of "attention" as a limited resource amongst facilities stakeholders.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of computer‐aided facilities management (CAFM) in the delivery of knowledge management solutions. It aims to highlight the increasing problem of “attention” as a limited resource amongst facilities stakeholders. The paper attempts to describe the findings of a study to establish the types of CAFM functionality sought by facilities management practitioners.Design/methodology/approach – The study involved a structured questionnaire study of 110 respondents in Scotland (from 395 administered questionnaires) using a stratified sample. The objective was to obtain a profile of early‐adopters and to identify barriers to further adoption.Findings – The findings indicate that the use of information technology in the form of CAFM is more likely amongst dedicated FM service providers than organisations with in‐house FM delivery and that medium‐sized enterprises (between 51 and 250 employees) are least likely to be using CAFM. A limiting factor in continued ad...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe how healthy performance of facilities can be monitored and performance data delivered as information flow according to specific user groups' needs, and a tool for the collection of performance data and communicating the data as relevant information for the facility management and other stake holders is developed.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how healthy performance of facilities can be monitored and performance data delivered as information flow according to specific user groups' needsDesign/methodology/approach – The context of performance in facilities is described, and a tool for the collection of performance data and communicating the data as relevant information for the facility management (FM) and other stake holders is developedFindings – Various user groups are utilizing the same performance data to ensure optimal and healthy conditions The integration of performance data to deliver meaningful and exploitable results for each user requires collection of the relevant data, compilation of data into information, and delivery of user specific information to the correct instance A performance sensing system with data management was developed into a FM tool for this purposePractical implications – FM is enabled to real time decision making by sensor‐based performance monitoringOrigina
TL;DR: In this article, a regression model for predicting the energy consumption and energy costs of office buildings is developed based on the results of a survey conducted in 80 Swiss office properties, which shows good agreement with the observed field data.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that building stock is currently one of the largest energy consumers. It is thus imperative that buildings are optimally planned, constructed, and used from both the environmental and the economic point of view. Cost models are relevant tools for achieving this objective as they can be used to estimate the occupancy costs in early project phases including energy costs.Design/methodology/approach – In the paper a regression model for predicting the energy consumption and energy costs of office buildings is developed based on the results of a survey conducted in 80 Swiss office properties.Findings – The proposed energy cost model shows good agreement with the observed field data. The mean absolute percentage error resulted in 12 per cent. Validation tests using five properties not used for the model development revealed percentage errors ranging between −17 per cent and 7 per cent. The proposed concept and the presented cost model can be used as a basis for fut...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a standard and reliable method for acquisition of tacit knowledge in facility management (FM) and convert the same into organizational records so that the current dearth of information and poor feedback leading to recurrent defects and arbitrary FM strategies can be eliminated.
Abstract: Purpose – Besides designing a comprehensive building maintainability scoring system, this paper aims to develop a standard and reliable method for acquisition of tacit knowledge in facility management (FM) and convert the same into organizational records so that the current dearth of information and poor feedback leading to recurrent defects and arbitrary FM strategies can be eliminated.Design/methodology/approach – Nine major building elements in terms of maintainability were compared by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Various aspects of consistency checking and group decision making were reviewed to find the best suitable method. During data collection via an AHP questionnaire in face‐to‐face interviews, logical reasoning employed by experts was noted and later matched with the subjective data.Findings – It was observed that technical viability of services and business profile given by building height and location, respectively, set different priorities for major building elements. HVAC system is the ...