The Rationale to Integrate Facilities Management Into the Development Process

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to justify the need to integrate Facilities Management (FM) into the development process (DP) and establish a framework that potentially serves as a guide to optimise the value of Facilities Management (FM) in the property development industry. Design/methodology/approach – This study looks at the relevant literature to identify the factors that are hindering FM to effectively integrate in the development process. Subsequently, the authors intend to carry out interviews with various professionals in the property development industry in the UK to identify the best practices. This research uses qualitative and quantitative methods in order to establish an FM-DP integration framework. Findings – The literature suggested that contribution of FM towards the property development industry is unquestionable. Surprisingly, in a real world FM has been given a low priority in the property development industry, resulting in Facilities Managers being inadequately integrated into the development process. There is currently no suitable generic mechanism that is practical in all stages of the development process to guide Facilities Managers and/or other professionals to integrate FM into the development process. Originality/value – This study is to provide evidence that the property development industry needs a framework that potentially serves as a guide to optimise the value of Facilities Management (FM) in the development process

Synergy of FM competences

Purpose Based on a content analysis of facility management (FM) competencies from three key professional associations, BIFM, IFMA and RICS, the resulting identified competencies for effective FM were found to be somewhat diverse based on association affiliation. However, the majority of emphasis clustered around five competencies that all groups coalesced around, demonstrating the strength of these shared competencies as core for FM. Findings, Key among the findings was that the top five competencies included: Compliance & standards; Contracts & procurement; Maintenance & operations; Sustainability; and Projects. Further analysis showed that each association had unique approaches in specialized areas inherent to that association’s purpose and history. There were also striking omissions on several competencies which point to a need for further discussion on whether to update/add competencies to align with other professional associations. What was clear was the balance of mentioned competencies within the full range of competencies for all three associations. It was an unexpected result which merits attention, especially in light of global standardization initiatives. Design/methodology/approach A complete review of the methodology, analysis and findings is included in this paper, providing the ability for future research to develop standardization worldwide. With the current ISO standard for Facility Management (FM) undergoing task group development, these research findings are essential for addressing industry needs in a robust, academic way. Originality/value.Discussion of the results across the broad spectrum of facility management researchers involved in EuroFM is needed to enhance standards development and advance the research agenda for academic facility management education

Feedback on feedback practice: perceptions of students and academics

While feedback is widely considered central to student learning, students across the higher education sector commonly report dissatisfaction with the feedback they receive. In contrast, academics often feel they provide quality and informative feedback. This article explores and compares the perceptions of students and academics with regard to feedback practice. The paper presents the results of questionnaire surveys conducted with academics and students at the School of the Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University. It highlights the perceptions of academics and students with regard to preferences for different types of feedback, timeliness of feedback, students’ engagement and interest in feedback, quality feedback and satisfaction with current practice. The findings indicate a significant discord between staff and students in relation to certain aspects of feedback practice, namely opinions on students’ engagement and interest in feedback, satisfaction with current practice and feedback preference. Similarities in viewpoints were also found in relation to quality feedback. © 2015 Taylor & Franci

Health information needs, source preferences and engagement behaviours of women with metastatic breast cancer across the care continuum: protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION: The health information needs, information source preferences and engagement behaviours of women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) depend on personal characteristics such as education level, prior knowledge, clinical complications, comorbidities and where they are in the cancer journey. A thorough understanding of the information behaviours of women living with mBC is essential to the provision of optimal care. A preliminary literature review suggests that there is little research on this topic, but that there may be lessons from a slightly broader literature. This review will identify what is known and what is not known about the health information needs, acquisition and influences of women with mBC across the care continuum. Findings will help to identify research needs and specific areas where in-depth systematic reviews may be feasible, as well as inform evidence-based interventions to address the health information needs of female patients with mBC with different demographics and characteristics and across the mBC journey. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A scoping review will be performed using the guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley as updated by subsequent authors to systematically search scientific and grey literature for articles in English that discuss the health information needs, source preferences, engagement styles, and associated personal and medical attributes of women ≥18 years living with mBC at different stages of the disease course. A variety of databases (including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Academic Search Premier, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and PQDT Open), oncology, patient advocacy and governmental websites will be searched from inception to present day. Research and non-research literature will be included; no study designs will be excluded. The six-stage Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodological framework involves: (1) identifying the research question; (2) searching for relevant studies; (3) selecting studies; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results; and (6) consulting with stakeholders to inform or validate study findings (optional). Data will be extracted and analysed using a thematic chart and descriptive content analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Being a secondary analysis, this research will not require ethics approval. Results will be disseminated through patient support organisations and websites and publications targeting healthcare professionals, advocates and patients

Research preparedness in undergraduate property and construction curriculum: the student experience

This study investigates the student experience of undergraduate research in order to develop a “research preparedness framework” that can be applied to the development of undergraduate curriculum design within a case study organisation. This research utilises built environment students from a Higher Education Institution in the UK. The study adopts a multi-method qualitative design using focus groups with various student cohorts, including Building Surveying, Real Estate Management and Quantity Surveying, followed by face-to-face interviews with industry representatives. This study highlights a discrepancy between student’s research preparedness and their understanding of its importance and perceived impact. It establishes areas for improvement within the curriculum to enhance students’ research preparedness throughout their undergraduate career. There are numerous benefits for students from being involved in research, such as developing a critical mind-set through the appraisal, collection, analysis and interpretation of complex information. However, students often do not see the tangible benefit of developing research skills to help them succeed and differentiate once they make their transition from higher education to employment. This study provides intriguing findings for anyone involved in property and construction curriculum across the globe, and will also appeal to any institution where students are undertaking research activities/projects

Critical Strategic Issues For The Integration Of Facilities Management Into The Development Process

Purpose: This paper identifies the critical strategic issues for the integration of facilities management (FM) into the development process (DP). It explains the factors that limit the integration and recognises the best practices applied in the property development industry in the UK. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a qualitative research approach through semi-structured interviews from the FM and property development industry in the UK. Findings: The study discovered that the recognition of FM in the property development industry is encouraging. However, FM has been given a low priority in the property development industry, resulting in Facilities Managers being inadequately integrated into the development process. Research limitations/implications: Practical implications: Social implications: Originality/value: The paper suggests that it is imperative to understand these strategic issues to promote best practice in the industry that improve the position of FM in the property development industry

Risk Management - Hygiene and Legionella in water systems in hospitals: Relevance for Facility Management and Facility Services

To guide readers properly, it is necessary to say that this article is part of an ongoing research project. It is divided into four sections. For the purpose of introducing into the topic, a concise summary of the contextual framework and theoretical background is presented first. Here the authors introduce on the topic of hygiene, Legionella and risk management in the context of Facility Management and Facility Services. After sharing the perspective from the research project's context, section two reveals findings of a literature review, which worked out a potential search strategy for people new to the topic. It is also useful for people responsible, who wish to get deeper knowledge about the topics 'responsibility of stakeholders' and the ‘process’ of Legionella prevention. With the contents of section three shifting from research to (legal) practice, some responsibilities of stakeholders and the ‘process’ of Legionella prevention are presented. As the field work of the research project is still running, and participants (interview partners) are still needed, the last section of this article informs briefly about characteristics of the research project

Optimizing Project Delivery through Augmented Reality and Agile Methodologies

The construction sector, which has a long history to use visualisation to envisage proposed designs and project delivery, is beginning to see the benefits of augmented reality and agile project management methodologies. This study investigated the benefits of augmented reality and agile project management methodologies. Convergent design method was considered valuable and the most straightforward for this study, as different types of quantitative and qualitative data were required to be collected and analysed. The participants drawn from the construction sector revealed a number of augmented and agile determinants that facilitated the delivery of construction and integration of project teams. The participants suggested that the proposed ARGILE framework increases client understanding of the tasks output, increases client involvement and collaboration with the project team. It was further established that the proposed ARGILE framework enhances project time management, embeds the client and empowers multidisciplinary team, increases collaboration and communication