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An exploration of how research can aid the development of facilities management

Lucy Zarina Campbell (Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE), University College London, London, UK)

Facilities

ISSN: 0263-2772

Article publication date: 4 April 2017

592

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore traditional FM research and potential trends.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory review of literature.

Findings

The main thrust of the argument in this paper is that FM research develops a more communicable and proven understanding of how to apply a wide spectrum of externally developed methods in unique FM settings as well as developing new methods. Second, a more robust FM knowledge base can inform designers, engineers and architects given that FMs are experts of design in use.

Research limitations/implications

This research focused on the UK, Europe, America and Australia. It does not represent a comprehensive/systematic review of the research activities occurring in FM globally.

Practical implications

Research traditionally focuses on hard FM; in contrast, FM outcomes are heavily dependent on the way end users interact with and use organisational services and equipment. This suggests that there is a gap between practice and research, and that intuitive and in-depth FM knowledge about end users has yet to be captured and formalised through research.

Social implications

Development of FM research requires uptake of contemporary research trends towards partnered research, working across disciplines.

Originality/value

Achieving a more robust FM knowledge base would help capture the wealth of knowledge that FMs have about buildings in use; this could then be used by FMs and also by designers to improve their products and services in disciplines like engineering and architecture.

Keywords

Citation

Campbell, L.Z. (2017), "An exploration of how research can aid the development of facilities management", Facilities, Vol. 35 No. 5/6, pp. 356-366. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-04-2016-0037

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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