There are many definitions and imprecations of the term facilities management. The British Institute for facilities Management (1996) defines it as:The practice of coordinating the physical workplace with the people and work of an organization, (It) integrates the principle of business administration, architecture and the behavioral and engineering sciences.As the overview of this definition (Figure 1.1) shows, facilities management represents broad ranging issues.Managing FacilitiesThe overview of facilities ManagementFacilities ManagementBehavioral and engineering scienceThe physical workspacePeopleThe work of the organizationArchitectureBusiness administrationWhat value does facilities management has the hotels?If facilities management is about managing physical assets, it has considerable relevance to other hospitality businesses, as the property or the premises in which the hospitality is delivered, form a major part of the product package sold to customers.Customer needs could be for overnight accommodation, a meeting area or a restaurant meal. In each case, the physical assets will form an important part of the product. Some of the common elements required to produce the accommodation product are shown in figure 1.2.Guests might also require:A source of information (e.g. regarding to other amenities)PrivacySecretarial assistancePorter ageCar- Parking SpaceRamp AccessLiftsPersonal laundry serviceSleeping facilitiesAs can be seen, the physical assets are prominent. The list could go on. Whereas many of the identified needs of customers are tangible (e.g. the lift, the guestroom and the hot water) and relate to physical assets, other needs (e.g. security and feeling of well-being) are largely intangible.Since the accommodation forms a major part of product, even in small hotels, the capital outlay or revenue expenditure on the property is proportionately high compared with other businesses. In order for business to be conducted in a hotel, it is essential for at least certain of the physical assets to be actively managed. Although the term facilities management might not be used, elements of facilities management would need to be applied to hotels to achieve business success.The Accommodation productAppropriate heating lighting and ventilationAppropriate personal securityFeeling of well-beingSatisfactory standard of hygiene, safety, cleanliness, appearance and maintenanceProvision for personal hygieneFood and beverage provisionDesign and décorAppropriate furniture, fittings, furnishings and equipmentThe development of facilities managementA property based disciplineFacilities management as a practice has its roots in the USA, where development took place during the 1980s. It is evolving from a property management, services and maintenance (including cleaning, caretaking, and waste disposal and catering) into a much more proactive, strategic role. In this role, it is also concerned with the design of property and the work environment, purchasing and future management and maintenance of the property thus, it covers a broad area of non-core activities (see Figure 1.3). Such activities could include IT Services and even human resources management. It is strategic role of facilities management which will be developed in this book.The evolution of facilities managementRepairs and maintenanceCleaning and waste disposalProperty purchase and design for target marketProperty valuation to determine useRefits to meet change or needChanges of service to meet change in demand patternsPolicies on space utilization and staffing implicationsPolicies on planned management of all physical assetsFrom a management perspective, facilities management must consider the needs of all building users, together with the needs of others who may affect by the management of the building. The needs of the following people, therefore, have to be considered.Shareholders have an interest in business and property value and the asset value and service standards must be maintained or developed.Employees need an efficient working environment. This is conductive to high morale and to high morale and to high quality and productivity.Customers in a hotel will not only be visiting the establishment, the will, hopefully, enjoy using its facilities. Considerable expertise must go into creating an atmosphere and environment which reinforces the good image of the organization.The local community will be affected by the property. Aspects such as visual appearance, pollution, traffic (as a result of business), employment and the encouragement of local custom must be all managed.Reliable suppliers who provide consistent quality are very important to the success of any organization. They might be providing a service, staff, equipment or supplies. Partnership, strategic alliances and other agreements are some means by which this group can be managed.Recent history gives some indication as to how and why the concept of facilities management, in general, not just in the hospitality industry, has developed in the last decade and the hospitality industry, has developed in the last decade and suggest that although many of the strands are not new, the overall approach does not have a different emphasis.The various factors which may have attributed to the rise in facilities management will now be considered.The scope of facilities managementCar fleet managementCleaningConstructionContract managementEnergy managementFurniture selectionHuman resourcesHealth and safetyInterior designLightingIT managementLinen and laundryMaintenanceMechanical engineeringOrganizational behaviorProject managementReprographics and designSecuritySpace planning managementProcurement and supplies managementTravel managementAccountsAcousticsArchitectureComputer and designFactors attributing to the development of facilities managementCost reductionsFierce competition, depressed trading conditions, higher energy costs and other economic elements have forced companies to look at all means of reducing costs and maintaining the market edge. Facilities costs can be very significant. Stipanuk and Roffman (1992) estimated that a full service hotel of under 125 rooms has an average expense of 11.9 per cent of turnover for property management and energy. With costs, savstings can best be made at the design stage of buildings. The development of ideas on terotechnology (considering life-cycle costs at the planning stage) is yet another probable stimulus for the development of facilities management concepts.In response to the rising awareness of property costs, attempts have been made to forecast total ownership costs of buildings (life-cycle costs) at the planning stage. These costs would include:Initial (fixed costs) + Operating costs + Residual costs (e.g. demolition or sale).The need for flexibilityContinuous change of policy, market and methods within organizations is now common. Whereas once, such decisions and changes whereas once, such decisions and changes were momentous and seen to be long-lasting, now they are considered to be more routine. At one time, there was only an occasional need for someone to oversee change whereas now that person is needed full-time. Changes related to physical assets include extending or reducing overall working space, modifying workstations to facilitate changing work methods or achieving building modifications in line with rate of churn (i.e. movement of personnel within the jobs in the building). Obsolescence related to workspace rarely, means physical delay, it often means the right fabric in the place. Such as process of change has been evidenced in hotels with relation to computerization and in restaurants as eating habits change and customer expectations of environment alter. In addition, response time needs to be fast. Downtime is waste. Hotel rooms are a perishable commodity as those not sold twice tomorrow night. Acknowledgement of the facilities as a major resource of the business itself, often means that premises are used round the clock.Trends in the development of facilities managementMany changes in recent years have been technological (e.g. building design and telecommunications). At the same time, human needs and expectations have changed and there is need to bridge the gap between the technical and human (see figure 1.6).In looking at the growth of facilities management in the UK, a number of trends become evident.Management and customer perceptionsNeed to change physical assets from overheads to resourcesPrestigeEmployee needs and expectationsWorking conditionsMoraleSick building syndromeNegligence claimsNeed for flexibilityContinuous market changesNeed for responsesHeavier use of facilitiesCost reductionsCompetitionDepressed trading conditionsHigher energy conditionsHigher energy costsHigher cost of spaceNeed for operational efficiencyDownsizingNeed to focus on core competitivenessGovernment policiesCompulsory competitive tenderingHealth and safety Get Help With Your EssayIf you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help!Find out more
