Showing papers in "International Journal of Strategic Property Management in 2016"
TL;DR: Research that sought to analyze the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and residents’ degree of satisfaction shows that for satisfaction with the neighborhood to increase, more attention needs to be paid to positive attitudes toward subjective variables that interfere withResidents’ satisfaction.
Abstract: Previous research has indicated that residents’ satisfaction with neighborhood conditions helps shape attitudes and has a high impact on residential valuations. This paper reports on research that sought to analyze the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and residents’ degree of satisfaction. Based on the construction of a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM), which involved residents from several highand low-quality neighborhoods in the Central-West region of Portugal, a framework that adds value to the way key determinants of neighborhood satisfaction are identified is proposed. Because FCMs allow the understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between factors to be improved, this framework shows that for satisfaction with the neighborhood to increase, more attention needs to be paid to positive attitudes toward subjective variables that interfere with residents’ satisfaction. The results presented can provide relevant information for the effective and efficient planning and developme...
50 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) was applied to a large dataset of 2,149 apartments, which included 17 variables belonging to two hierarchical levels: apartment and neighbourhood.
Abstract: Mass appraisal, or the automatic valuation of a large number of real estate assets, has attracted the attention of many researchers, who have mainly approached this issue employing traditional econometric models such as Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). However, this method does not consider the hierarchical structure of the data and therefore assumes the unrealistic hypothesis of the independence of the individuals in the sample. This paper proposes the use of the Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) to overcome this limitation. The HLM also gives valuable information on the percentage of the variance error caused by each level in the hierarchical model. In this study HLM was applied to a large dataset of 2,149 apartments, which included 17 variables belonging to two hierarchical levels: apartment and neighbourhood. The model obtained high goodness of fit and all the estimated variances of the parameters in HLM were lower than those calculated by OLS. It can be concluded as well that no further neighbourh...
40 citations
TL;DR: An approach in the form of a hybrid Fuzzy method and Cybernetic Analytic Network Process (CANP) model for identifying shared risks is presented for equitable risk allocation with attention to identifying dependencies between risk allocation criteria and barriers.
Abstract: A proper risk management strategy is essential in property management. For controlling and reducing risks on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, risk allocation is a major component of PPP risk management. Identifying appropriate shared risks and optimal risk allocation in a structured way is a complex process. The aim of this study is to develop a quantitative approach for equitable risk allocation with attention to identifying dependencies between risk allocation criteria and barriers. The paper presents an approach in the form of a hybrid Fuzzy method and Cybernetic Analytic Network Process (CANP) model for identifying shared risks. The approach involves the use of Fuzzy sets to convert linguistic principles and experiential expert knowledge into systematic quantitative analysis and the CANP to solve the problem of dependency and feedback between criteria and barriers as well as selection of shared risks. A case study is presented to demonstrate the use of the model in selecting shared risks. The study involves development of 10 criteria and 8 barriers. Finally, of 40 significant risks, 14 risks are successfully allocated between the public and private sector in Iranian PPP projects.
31 citations
TL;DR: This framework will enable field data collection in order to better understand the interrelationships between context, management strategies and outcomes and is intended to provide practitioners with decision support tools for selecting appropriate housing reconstruction management strategies.
Abstract: There is an urgent need to improve the management of housing reconstruction programmes. Post-disaster housing reconstruction represents a significant portion of global property investment but its management has often proved to be ineffective. Although the post-disaster context makes management more challenging, it also offers exceptional opportunities to invest in and develop a more resilient built environment. On the basis of a systematic review of the existing literature, characteristics of the housing reconstruction context and successes, failures and management issues arising from historical housing reconstruction programmes were identified. These were synthesized into a conceptual framework that relates the contextual characteristics with management strategies and with the desired outcomes for housing reconstruction initiatives. This framework will enable field data collection in order to better understand the interrelationships between context, management strategies and outcomes. Ultimately,...
31 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conduct a panel study using a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) based framework that utilizes the skills and knowledge of a panel of residential real estate professionals (i.e. appraisers and realtors).
Abstract: Considerable literature exists regarding the complexity of the residential real estate appraisal process and the methods employed to determine initial listing prices as estimates of intrinsic market prices. Deviations in residential real estate intrinsic values occur due to a multiplicity of attributes and explanatory factors requiring consideration. We conduct a panel study using a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) based framework that utilizes the skills and knowledge of a panel of residential real estate professionals (i.e. appraisers and realtors). We demonstrate how cognitive mapping and the Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH) may assist in estimating appropriate offer/sale prices and strengthening current valuation approaches such as using comparables and/or hedonic modeling. The managerial implications of our MCDA-based framework and some avenues for future research are also presented.
29 citations
TL;DR: This research concentrates on another paradigm in applying scenarios to upcoming events, MADM methods in the new area are explored, and the concept, which is called MADM based scenarios, is presented.
Abstract: Decision making takes into account a myriad of factors about the future topics, which often prove challenging and quite complicated. Multiple Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) methods still have not become powerful enough to help decision makers to adopt the best solutions regarding future issues. Different scenarios are suitable for developing an appropriate outlook toward different probable futures. Scenarios are not inherently quantitative, but recently different integrated quantitative methods have been incorporated with the processes in various studies. Previously, different types of scenario-based MADM methods have been presented in different studies, but they just considered each case separately. In those studies, MADM methods were only applied to evaluate the situation in scenario-based MADM. This research concentrates on another paradigm in applying scenarios to upcoming events, MADM methods in the new area are explored, and the concept, which is called MADM based scenarios, is presented. ...
29 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an empirical comparison of three decision support tools (i.e., Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Delphi, and Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH)) in the specific context of trade-off readjustments in credit risk analysis of mortgage loans.
Abstract: Due to the severe restrictions on access to credit resulting from the current economic climate, credit risk analysis of mortgage loans has been considered paramount for banking institutions and is currently accompanied by higher credit underwriting standards. In this paper, we present an empirical comparison of three decision support tools (i.e. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Delphi, and Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH)) in the specific context of trade-off readjustments in credit risk analysis of mortgage loans. We conducted a panel study with credit analysts and focused on five lines of comparison: ease of use; time-consumption; ease of applicability; accuracy; and overall evaluation. Results indicate that Delphi surpasses AHP and MACBETH in terms of ease of use, time-consumption and ease of applicability. As for accuracy, the differences obtained between AHP and MACBETH are not significant, and both methods perform better than Delphi. Most of the...
27 citations
TL;DR: In the research, in order to evaluate variety of light supply methods in underground safe spaces, a questionnaire was set and it was represented that the choice of light Supply by the lamp with battery source to provide light for city shelters is the best.
Abstract: One of the most significant issues in the safe underground spaces is the supply of light during the conditions in which there is no possibility to use national electricity network in crisis. Hence, attention to the source management of light supply possesses worthy importance. Light is one of the important issues in underground safe spaces which must be noticed with particular obligations. In the research, in order to evaluate variety of light supply methods in underground safe spaces, a questionnaire was set in order to weigh affective indexes up and score each method. To determine the best index among different indexes, SWARA method was applied; then COPRAS method was used in order to analyze data of the questionnaire that the best choice among various strategies could be chosen. Results represented that the choice of light supply by the lamp with battery source to provide light for city shelters is the best. According to results gotten from this method, choices of light supply by the fossil fue...
26 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of internationalization and diversification strategies on the financial performance of construction industry companies is investigated using truncated regression, controlling for the effect of contextual factors such as company age, size and time.
Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of internationalization and diversification strategies on the financial performance of construction industry companies. The results obtained can guide the design of strategies to pursue company growth and achieve competitive advantage. The evaluation of companies’ performance is based on the use of the Data Envelopment Analysis technique to aggregate financial indicators using optimized weights. The impact of internationalization and diversification on company performance is explored using truncated regression, controlling for the effect of contextual factors such as company age, size and time. Data Envelopment Analysis and truncated regression were complemented with bootstrapping to ensure the robustness of the results obtained. The activity of Portuguese and Spanish contractors in the period 2002 to 2011 is used as case study. The empirical results show that internationalization has a positive impact on financial performance, although this effect is only statistically significant for Spanish contractors. Diversification has a nonlinear relationship with performance, benefiting companies with either a small number of core activities or companies with a broad scope of activities.
21 citations
TL;DR: A Building Inclusiveness Assessment Score (BIAS) is proposed to fill the existing gap in building disability inclusiveness, indicating the extent to which building considerations include persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Abstract: Tended to view disability inclusion as merely another mandate, building and construction practitioners have yet to recognize its value in social sustainability. In academia, similarly, it has received less attention than other building performance attributes such as environmental friendliness and indoor air quality. With rights to access now acknowledged as basic human rights, there is demand for a tool to assess building disability inclusiveness, indicating the extent to which building considerations include persons with disabilities (PWDs). This paper proposes a Building Inclusiveness Assessment Score (BIAS) to fill the existing gap. The BIAS framework comprises two hierarchies of inclusion attributes identified from literature, guides, and standards of barrier-free access and universal design. The final product consists of two building disability inclusiveness assessment tools: the Physical Disability Inclusion Sub-score (PDIS) and the Visual Impairment Inclusion Sub-score (VIIS). These are sim...
21 citations
TL;DR: The research framework adopted in this study was based on the seven factors of the AdaptSTAR model; assessment criteria for building reuse were then created and a decision model for reuse type prediction and business strategy was constructed on the basis of artificial neural networks.
Abstract: Because of global urbanization and sustainable development trends, reusing vacant buildings is a crucial strategy employed in urban development and management. Reusing and adjusting the future service values of unused buildings to extend building life cycles is a sustainable approach that benefits society, the economy, and the environment. However, repurposed spaces are easily re-discarded because a comprehensive system and operational plan for assessing the effects of building reuse remains unestablished. The research framework adopted in this study was based on the seven factors of the AdaptSTAR model; assessment criteria for building reuse were then created. In addition, 62 types of reused building cases in Taiwan were investigated and a decision model for reuse type prediction and business strategy was constructed on the basis of artificial neural networks. The results indicated that the proposed decision model yielded a reuse type accuracy of 89% and a business strategy accuracy of 78%. This ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a theoretical framework to study the presence of endowment effect and its role in housing decision-making process and found that endowment effects play an important role in the formation of judgmental biases in housing decisions.
Abstract: Endowment effect refers to the reported gaps between willingness to accept and willingness to pay. According to prospect theory, this effect is a result of the underweighting of opportunity costs. Given the high stake involved in a typical housing transaction, endowment effect is expected to have a significant influence on housing decisions. We develop a theoretical framework to study the presence of endowment effect and its role in housing decision-making process. Three hypotheses are derived and tested through a field experiment conducted in Beijing, China. Our empirical results show that endowment effect plays an important role in the formation of judgmental biases in housing decisions. Moreover, endowment effect interacts with housing cycles. Our study highlights the application of prospect theory in the housing market; thus, it not only extends existing theoretical and empirical works in this important sector, but also clarifies consumer behavior in the emerging property market of China.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the stationarity properties, the long-run equilibrium and the leadlag relationship among the regional house prices in China from December 2000 to July 2013, and determined that these house prices exhibit uni-directional causalities running from Beijing, Chongqing, and Shenzhen to Guangzhou and Tianjin, respectively.
Abstract: This paper examines the stationarity properties, the long-run equilibrium and the leadlag relationship among the regional house prices in China from December 2000 to July 2013. Unlike traditional unit-root tests, the panel seemingly unrelated regressions augmented Dickey-Fuller (SURADF) unit-root test reveals that the regional house prices in China are a mixture of I(0) and I(1) processes. There is concrete evidence in favor of the hypothesis of a long-run equilibrium relationship among all regions, except for Shanghai region, and supporting the price diffusion or ripple effect among these Chinese cities. Finally, we determine that these regional house prices exhibit uni-directional causalities running from Beijing, Chongqing, and Shenzhen to Guangzhou and Tianjin, respectively.
TL;DR: In this paper, the sensitivity of bank stock returns to real estate returns in 15 European countries was studied and it was shown that bank stocks are sensitive to real-estate market conditions.
Abstract: In countries with highly-developed financial systems bank portfolios have high exposure, directly or indirectly, to the real estate sector. Changes in the value of real estate can have a potentially significant impact on the default risk of banks and on their profitability as a result of high exposure to the real estate sector. This is especially critical during real estate crises, when bank losses tend to increase dramatically, placing the entire financial system at risk of collapse, as it was the case of the recent international subprime crisis. This article studies the sensitivity of bank stock returns to real estate returns in 15 European countries. The results indicate that bank stocks are sensitive to real estate market conditions. There is a positive relation between bank stock returns and real estate returns after controlling for general market conditions and interest rates changes.
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparison of FUZZY and AHP was conducted in order to reduce expenditure and increase the resistance of the walls, and the main aim of this article is to study different types of exterior walls for renewal and reconstruction of buildings in earthquake area.
Abstract: Two earthquakes of magnitude 6.1mb occurred at the Ahar and around 16000 residential buildings were destroyed. one of the conspicuous issues in the earthquake is property management to reconstruct and confront the crisis. in this regard, since the most damage inflicted on the buildings occurs in the exterior walls, therefore, the most financial resources must be spent on reconstructing this part of damaged buildings. Thus, this paper was conducted in order to reduce expenditure and increase the resistance of the walls. The urban fabric of the area didn’t sustain much damage and only the exterior walls of the buildings were collapsed. Thus, the main aim of this article is to study different types of exterior walls for renewal and reconstruction of buildings in earthquake area. To approach this aim, using group decision-making method. This paper presents the comparison of FUZZY and AHP. in this regard, this research is centralized on types of exterior walls to reconstruct iran earthquake areas (Ahar...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors systematically summarise and synthesise literature, critically discuss issues, and identify methodological problems as well as research, practice gaps and potential solutions to matters relating to financing and investment in disaster resilience in the built environment.
Abstract: In stark comparison to reductions achieved in the number of human casualties from disasters it is now evident that economic losses are increasing at a much higher rate. While several events contribute to economic loss from disasters, loss from built environment (property) damages and its consequential effects are significant. The overarching purpose of this paper is to systematically summarise and synthesise literature, critically discuss issues, and identify methodological problems as well as research, practice gaps and potential solutions to matters relating to financing and investment in Disaster resilience in the Built Environment. Literature materials used for this the paper were gathered from reputable sources. As part of the findings of the study, a growing shift towards investment and enhancement of disaster resilience through the principles of corporate social responsibility and public private partnership was observed. However, many of the documented investments were made after disaster struck once or nearby.
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of flood risk on utility, desirability and marketability related to vulnerability of commercial property value was investigated in two groups of business property holders in England.
Abstract: The research was developed linking the impact of flood risk on utility, desirability and marketability related to vulnerability of commercial property value. Likert style questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain data from flood affected and un-affected respondents across different designated flood risk zones on key business and perception variables among two groups of business property holders in England. The responses were analysed through a spatial vulnerability model to illustrate the distribution of the vulnerability of value of properties among flood plain business holders on a GIS platform. Majority of respondents perceived that utility of properties may be hampered by flooding and subsequently have an impact on value for property at risk. Those with flood experience gave greater weight to their specific business needs such as the prime location and expected income level than those without flood experience. The implication of the study lies in understanding that flood risk perceptions ca...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate buyers' preferences for two types of “special” units, namely duplex units and adjoining flats, and investigate the price premiums paid by the buyers, and examine the effects of these special units on property price.
Abstract: Demand for luxury housing units from the upper and upper-middle income groups in Hong Kong has been increasing over the last few years. as the market cannot satisfy demand, some prospective buyers have turned their attention to “special” housing units. this research paper attempts to investigate buyers’ preferences for two types of “special” units, namely duplex units and adjoining flats. the study investigates the price premiums paid by the buyers, and examines the effects of these special units on property price. the study employs two hedonic price models: one measuring the buy- ers’ preference on duplex units and the other one measuring buyers’ preference on adjoining flats. The results show that buyers are willing to pay a larger premium for special residential units: HK$588/ft2 more for a duplex unit and HK$934/ft2 more for an adjoining property unit, respectively. furthermore, a relatively larger premium is found for adjoining flats compared to duplex units. This implies that a property unit...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the nonlinear relations and volatility spillovers among house prices, interest rates and stock market prices using monthly data from January 1985 to March 2009 for Taiwan and find that the Smooth Transition Vector Error Correction GARCH (STVEC-GARCH) model has the best forecasting ability based on goodness of fit tests.
Abstract: This paper addresses the interaction between interest rates and the significant increases in both Taiwanese house and stock market prices seen in recent years. Changes in house prices impact banks’ nonperforming loans, whereas changes in interest rates directly influence the ability of individuals and businesses to pay loan interest, accentuating the co-movements between house and stock market prices. We investigate the nonlinear relations and volatility spillovers among house prices, interest rates and stock market prices using monthly data from January 1985 to March 2009 for Taiwan. We find that the Smooth Transition Vector Error Correction GARCH (STVEC-GARCH) model has the best forecasting ability based on goodness of fit tests while showing a nonlinear and co-integrated relation among the three variables. Specifically, house price leads stock market returns when the interest rate is led by either house price or stock market returns. The volatility of stock market returns has significant impact...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate architectural qualities and financial solutions for rentable and relocatable education facilities in finland, and focus on the communal interests in solving the property management with a portfolio of rentable facilities for different time spans ranging from very short term to periods up to over twenty years.
Abstract: The industrialised production of prefabricated daycare and school properties offer flexible alternatives for communities for provision of communal services. The paper investigates architectural qualities and financial solutions for rentable and relocatable education facilities in finland. in particular, the focus is on the communal interests in solving the property management with a portfolio of rentable facilities for different time spans ranging from very short term to periods up to over twenty years. The short term rental terms offer solutions for disaster mitigation such as flooding but also spaces during refurbishment of existing buildings, e.g. due to moisture and mould damage. A core issue is a potential sustainable and flexible co-existence of both permanent and flexible modules that can adapt, for example to demographic changes, improving the efficiency of communal property management. Thus the prefabricated solutions have a potential, if the architectural quality is high enough, to prov...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the price discovery function and volatility spillovers in A-REIT index futures and also investigated the effects of the global financial crisis (gfc) on these two features.
Abstract: This study examines the price discovery function and volatility spillovers in australian real estate investment trust (A-REIT) index futures and also investigates the effects of the global fi- nancial crisis (gfc) on these two features. as opposed to the general understanding of the relationship between the cash and the futures markets, the current study finds that the A-REIT cash market led the a-reIt futures market in price discovery and volatility transmission processes before the gfc. However, during the GFC, the two markets interacted bilaterally in terms of information flow, i.e., in- formation flowed in both directions. Furthermore, after the GFC, the futures market followed the cash market again, but less closely. These findings have broad implications for investors in property assets.
TL;DR: In this paper, the verification of a performance evaluation model of innovative companies in the Czech Republic and the evaluation of the impact of a branch on their performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency are discussed.
Abstract: The article deals with the verification of a performance evaluation model of innovative companies in the Czech Republic and the evaluation of the impact of a branch on their performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. From a methodological point of view, the article is based on the use of Data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the performance of the selected companies. To evaluate their performance, a two-stage DEA method, BCC model orientated at inputs is used. In the first stage, the effectiveness of resources spent on protecting industrial property rights is evaluated. In the second stage, it is assessed how the companies managed to evaluate registered property rights in terms of added value. The research results show that among branches, there are significant differences in both the overall level of performance, and in its pillars – effectiveness and efficiency. In the conclusion, other potential factors that could affect the company’s performance in terms of effectiveness and e...
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of earthquake damage scenarios on social and economical terms, as well as evaluating the outcome of implementing traditional retrofitting strategies to exist in Portugal, is discussed.
Abstract: It is recognized that both community and urban resilience depends on the capacity of built environment to maintain acceptable structural safety levels during and after unforeseeable events, such as earthquakes, as well as to recover their original functionality. Investing in disaster risk mitigation policies is a great step towards promoting urban resilience and community preparedness, implicitly limiting damage to the built environment and subsequently reducing human, economic and environmental losses. Portugal is a moderate to high seismic prone area as the latest estimates indicate that within the next 50 years the country could be severely hit by a strong quake similar to the historical 1755 event, which left a trail of destruction and death, mainly in densely populated areas, such as Lisbon. This manuscript aims to mitigate the impact of earthquake damage scenarios on social and economical terms, as well as evaluating the outcome of implementing traditional retrofitting strategies to existin...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined a specific segment of the housing markets from Central and Eastern European countries, namely the stock of flats in the urban area, and investigated whether and to what extent the improvements made to the flats and buildings have a significant effect on sale prices and rental prices.
Abstract: This paper examines a specific segment of the housing markets from Central and Eastern European countries, namely the stock of flats in the urban area. With focus on Romania, we emphasize the improvements made by owners and authorities, aimed to enhance the quality of life and the maintenance of old blocks of flats; are highlighted some aspects regarding the cost of these improvements. In addition, the empirical section investigates whether and to what extent the improvements made to the flats and buildings have a significant effect on sale prices and rental prices. The marginal prices of these attributes are provided by hedonic pricing models, estimated in a generalized linear model framework; gamma and log-linear regression models perform in a similar way in terms of fit and prediction accuracy. The physical condition of the building and finishing works inside the flats, as variables of interest in our models, have a significant effect on sale and rental prices, but with different intensity. A c...
TL;DR: In this paper, large scale projects tasked with designing infrastructures and urban networks resilient to disasters face a common challenge, i.e., the need to address concomitant technological issues and social pr...
Abstract: Large scale projects tasked with designing infrastructures and urban networks resilient to disasters face a common challenge, i.e. the need to address concomitant technological issues and social pr ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the effectiveness of different property portfolio diversification strat- egies using five methods; (1) correlation matrices, (2) efficient frontiers, (3) Sharpe ratios, using three different sub methods, (4) coefficients in equations explaining total returns and (5) R-square values in equations explained total returns.
Abstract: This paper compares the effectiveness of different property portfolio diversification strat- egies using five methods; (1) correlation matrices, (2) efficient frontiers, (3) Sharpe ratios, using three different sub methods, (4) coefficients in equations explaining total returns and (5) R-square values in equations explaining total returns. The evaluation methods are applied to both value weighted and equally weighted indices based on Swedish real estate return data. All methods show that, if any, diversifying over property types is a better strategy on the Swedish market than diversifying over re- gions. No test yields significant support for regional diversification. The support for the property type strategy is stronger when using equally weighted indices.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine changing transactions activity and liquidity over thirty years in the UK and hypothesise that urban change and an increased information base has contributed to a more active management of real estate portfolios and increased liquidity.
Abstract: This paper examines changing transactions activity and liquidity over thirty years in the UK. It reviews the multi-dimensional concept of liquidity analysis and demonstrates that it is not just a function of the time necessary to sell an asset, a typical real estate perspective. Instead liquidity is defined in terms of transactions activity. The paper then hypothesises that urban change and an increased information base has contributed to a more active management of real estate portfolios and increased liquidity. Superimposed on this long term trend it is also hypothesised that property cycles create rise and falls in liquidity. The empirical core quantifies the changing nature of liquidity and transactions activity over thirty years from 1981 based on the IPD database. It confirms the hypothesised substantial rise in liquidity but increasing variability in the level of transactions activity from one year to the next queries the cyclical liquidity hypothesis. This is supported by causality tests. Over the last two decades a short term opportunity driven real estate investment culture appears to have emerged stimulated by the increased churn of properties, partly the consequence of the pace of urban change. It has brought greater volatility to the commercial real estate market.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the theoretical trends in outsourcing of FM functions and the current state of FM practice using Nigeria and UK as case studies using a combination of literature review and questionnaire survey and further explored the perception of 30 carefully selected facilities managers in UK and Nigeria who are subscribing members of British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and International Facilities Manage- ment Association (IFMA) Nigeria's chapter respectively.
Abstract: Previous research has acknowledged facilities management (FM) as a discipline that optimises the delivery of facilities and its related services through use of high profile strategies that provide cost effective, high quality and integrated approach to the concept of managing facilities and its related services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the theoretical trends in outsourcing of FM functions and the current state of FM practice using Nigeria and UK as case studies. This re- search used a combination of literature review and questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey was conducted to further explore (through comparative analysis) the perception of 30 (15 from UK and 15 from Nigeria) carefully selected facilities managers in UK and Nigeria who are subscribing members of British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and International Facilities Manage- ment Association (IFMA) Nigeria’s chapter respectively. 22 respondents consisting of 13 received from UK respondents and 9 from N...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the gaps in managing housing needs in post-conflict housing reconstruction within the context of Sri Lanka and present the recommendations to minimise such gaps, which are mainly found in conflict sensitivity, measures related to physical housing, performance of implementing agencies, policy and practice issues.
Abstract: Addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction leads to successful housing reconstruction. As part of a study of investigating how the housing needs can be effectively addressed in post conflict housing reconstruction, this paper identifies the gaps in managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction within the context of Sri Lanka and presents the recommendations to minimise such gaps. Data was collected through un-structured interviews conducted with 37 participants, comprising policy makers, practitioners, academics and beneficiaries who engaged in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Gaps were mainly found in conflict sensitivity, measures related to physical housing, performance of implementing agencies, policy and practice issues. On the job training, application of ‘do no harm’ principles, enhanced beneficiary participation, enhanced accountability, effective monitoring, enhanced knowledge sharing, adequate drinking water facilities, irrigation ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the decision environment which has significant impact on stakeholders' behaviours, to identify challenges in seismic rehabilitation decision-making, including various options, diverse considerations, assorted stakeholders, conflicting multiple objectives, and unaided decision making process.
Abstract: Implementing seismic rehabilitation requires a substantial investment for substandard building owners. Seismic retrofitting can significantly reduce earthquake damages to the built environment and thus decrease the risk posing to the public and the community. However, many countries with active seismic zones, including New Zealand, experience slow progress of seismic retrofit. This paper examines the decision environment which has significant impact on stakeholders’ behaviours, to identify challenges in seismic rehabilitation decision-making. A qualitative approach was adopted with semi-structured interviews. A selection of building owners, government officials, and practical professionals involved in seismic retrofitting decision-making were interviewed. Major challenges identified by the interview results include various options, diverse considerations, assorted stakeholders, conflicting multiple objectives, and unaided decision making process. The inconsistency in expectation of whether build...