Built Environment Professionals’ Perception of the Importance of Facility Management Professionals at the Design Stage

There is a misconception that facility management (FM) professionals are needed only after a building has been completed, in order to manage maintenance and operating expenses. Hence, they are hardly considered an essential part of the design team. To query this notion, this study investigated the perception of built environment professionals on the importance of FM professionals at the design stage. Quantitative research using a questionnaire survey was adopted. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to four categories of built environment professionals (engineers - civil, electrical and mechanical; architects; quantity surveyors, and builders) in Lagos, Nigeria and 266 (78%) of the questionnaires were found useful for analysis. The data was analysed using percentages, mean, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The outcome of the analysis showed that respondents agree that FM professionals are important at the design stage in order to review design from a maintenance, operation, and serviceability perspective. The study also revealed that architects and quantity surveyors are fully convinced that FM professionals are crucial at the design stage, while builders and engineers are not. It was suggested that the governing body of FM professionals, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), should organize forums where other built environment professionals can be educated on the importance of involving FM professionals at the design stage. Moreover, IFMA should leverage its membership base to secure meetings with owners of facilities with high running costs and demonstrate to them the savings accruable had they engaged FM professionals at the design stage. This is with a view to encouraging such owners to engage IFMA members from the onset of their subsequent projects. Doing so will ensure the delivery of cost-efficient facilities

The Impact of Faculty of Study on Students’ Satisfaction: A Study of Four Private Universities in Nigeria

Due to the increasing number of educational institutions in Nigeria, Universities (particularly private Universities) are competing to attract more students into their faculties. In a bid to achieve this goal, these Universities are making all efforts to satisfy their students. This paper therefore examines the impact of the faculty of study on students’ satisfaction with academic facilities in four (4) private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. To achieve this, seven hundred and seventy (770) questionnaires were developed and distributed randomly to the students and a response rate of 71% was achieved. Data was analysed using frequency tables, percentages, cross-tabulation and Kruskal Wallis Test. The result of the analysis reveals that faculty of study significantly influences students’ satisfaction. Implications of these finding and future research directions are discusse

Building Failure and Collapse in Nigeria: the Influence of the Informal Sector

The occurrence of building failure and collapse has become a major issue of concern in the development of this nation as the magnitudes of this incident are becoming very alarming. This paper therefore examines the incidents of building failure/collapse in Nigeria. By focusing on six major states from each of the six geo-political regions of the country, the paper examined the contributory role of the informal sector to this decadence. The study indicated that the building failure and collapse stem principally from hasty construction, low quality workmanship, poor supervision, inexperience (use of incompetent hands), ignorance, evasion/ non-compliance with building regulations and non enforcement of building quality, standard and control on construction site/market. This study has revealed that more than 70% of the reported cases of building collapse in Nigeria stemmed from the informal sector. It further showed that 70-0%, 23-3% and 6.7% of the reported cases occurred in private, public and corporate organizations respectively. In this paper, it is concluded that it is important to educate or giver further advice to the government and the governmental agencies to be proactive to their duties in order to curb/reduce this negative image

Built Environment Professionals’ Perception of the Importance of Facility Management Professionals at the Design Stage

There is a misconception that facility management (FM) professionals are needed only after a building has been completed, in order to manage maintenance and operating expenses. Hence, they are hardly considered an essential part of the design team. To query this notion, this study investigated the perception of built environment professionals on the importance of FM professionals at the design stage. Quantitative research using a questionnaire survey was adopted. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to four categories of built environment professionals (engineers - civil, electrical and mechanical; architects; quantity surveyors, and builders) in Lagos, Nigeria and 266 (78%) of the questionnaires were found useful for analysis. The data was analysed using percentages, mean, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The outcome of the analysis showed that respondents agree that FM professionals are important at the design stage in order to review design from a maintenance, operation, and serviceability perspective. The study also revealed that architects and quantity surveyors are fully convinced that FM professionals are crucial at the design stage, while builders and engineers are not. It was suggested that the governing body of FM professionals, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), should organize forums where other built environment professionals can be educated on the importance of involving FM professionals at the design stage. Moreover, IFMA should leverage its membership base to secure meetings with owners of facilities with high running costs and demonstrate to them the savings accruable had they engaged FM professionals at the design stage. This is with a view to encouraging such owners to engage IFMA members from the onset of their subsequent projects. Doing so will ensure the delivery of cost-efficient facilities

User's Satisfaction with Residential Facilities in Nigerian Private Universities:A Study of Covenant University

This study aims at ascertaining the satisfaction derived by residents of the staff residential estate of a Nigerian private university from its facilities with a view of ensuring the functionality and optimal performance of facilities in Universities. In achieving the aim of the study, one hundred and ninety six (196) questionnaires were distributed to the residents of Covenant University’s staff quarters made up of diverse housing units for various cadre of its faculty using the non-probability sampling technique. A total of one hundred and twenty-four (124) questionnaires were returned representing a response rate of 63.26% and collated data was analysed accordingly using the weighted arithmetic mean coupled with the relative importance index. Findings showed that the inhabitants of the university staff quarters were majorly satisfied with the services of five out of the eight principal university facilities maintained by the Physical Planning and Development (PPD) unit. Three other systems were in need of attention as indicated by the relative importance index. Conclusively, the PPD was admonished to continually pay attention on the services of the University’s priced assets which on the long run, would foster an increased satisfaction level for residents of the estat

Effects of Characteristics of Nigerian Students on Perceived Satisfaction of Academic Facilities in Private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Students' retention amongst the competitive private Universities in Nigeria leads to issues of students' satisfaction which is relatively sparse in literature. This study thereby examined the relationship between selected students' characteristics (sex, age, year of study and type of sponsorship) on the students’ satisfaction in three (3) private Universities in Ado - Odo Local Government Council, Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of four hundred and thirty two (432) questionnaires, representing 76% of the sample size, were used for analysis. The result of the analysis using cross-tabulation, Mann-whitney U Test and Krustal Wallis showed that there is no close relationship between sex, age, year of study and type of sponsorship and satisfaction with academic facilities in the Universities. However, this result is not totally conclusive, particularly for Covenant University, as further analysis revealed that mode of sponsorship is significant. Further research is thereby advocated

Impact of HVOTLS on Residential Property Rental Values in High-Brow Lagos Metropolis

High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines (HVOTLs) otherwise refered to as power-lines have been debated to facilitate property value diminution. This current study investigates the impact of power-lines on the rents of residential properties in high brow Lagos. Questionnaires were distributed to registered Estate Surveying firms, residents within 200m to power-lines in Surulere area of Lagos while an indepth interview of the Manager and field officers of the Akangba PHCN sub-station was conducted. On the average, a response rate of 66.5% was recorded. Findings revealed that residential property rents increased as distance from power-lines increased averagely by =N=5,000.00 and a mean value impact of =N=786 on neighbourhood rental value.The study encouraged the use of buried armour cables instead of overhead power-lines in future and the strict enforcement of ROWs within Lagos metropolis where power-lines already exist, in a bid to abate the effect of power line on property investments