Factors affecting effective facilities management practices in South Africa: a case study of Kwazulu Natal Province

Abstract

Purpose Although facilities management (FM) has been advocated in the construction industry to address the issues of facilities in buildings, their adoption is still plagued with barriers. The factors affecting FM practices need detailed investigation. However, few studies have been conducted on the factors affecting FM practices in developing countries such as South Africa. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this aim, a quantitative survey was carried out using questionnaire to gather relevant data in the study area. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and principal component (factor) analysis. The study was conducted on 39 facilities managers in the Department of Public Works in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Findings The descriptive analysis revealed that availability of funds, occupants’ knowledge of FM, absence of policy guiding FM practice, state of deterioration of facilities and design concepts and scope were significant challenges affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa. The result of the principal component analysis of the factors affecting FM practices were grouped into organisational factors, structural/design errors and end users’ elements. Research limitations/implications As it is widely understood that “money” plays a significant role in the performance of any activity or function, administrators/governments of public facilities should strive to plan and make appropriate finances accessible to facilities managers. Participation of facilities managers in the planning stage can also help reduce design flaws and their maintenance implications. In addition, adequate training for professionals can improve FM awareness and productivity. Originality/value The paper reveals the structural framework of the factors that can influence the effective facilities management practices in public buildings.

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

“…The participants gave their verbal consent on the grounds that the researcher is also a professional in the built environment. The questionnaire posed questions taken from findings from earlier research (Abeydeera et al, 2017;Alhammadi, 2019;Engstrom, 2021;Mewomo et al, 2022;Neuman, 2015;Olunwa, 2018;Smith, 2021;Tucker & Masuri, 2018). Apart from the introductory part, there are two other sections in the questionnaire.…”

Challenges in implementing building information modelling for facility management in government buildings in Thailand

“…However, these studies did not address the difference between private and public procurement regulations, which is a significant factor in FM financial problems. Mewomo et al (2022) studied the factors affecting FM in public buildings in South Africa and found the primary problems to be issues with funding, limited knowledge in FM, lack of FM policy, deterioration in FM elements, design scope, lack of FM technology services, inappropriate maintenance systems and low quality of FM services and building materials. Similarly, the study by Hopland and Kvamsdal (2018) identified the most concerning problems to be inefficiency in financial management and a lack of concern for organisation in FM.…”

“…The FM problems include inconsistency in online maintenance request system (SI 5 0.321), poor Internet connection (SI 5 0.282) and inaccuracy and insufficiency in preparing the bill of quantities (BOQ) (SI 5 0.270). The study of Mewomo et al (2022) on public buildings showed that the deterioration in FM elements, lack of FM technology services, inappropriate maintenance systems and low quality of FM services and building materials pose technical challenges to effective FM. Similarly, other studies reported on technological problems in government building FM (Aishah Kamarazaly et al, 2013;Hassanain et al, 2013;Støre-Valen and Buser, 2018)…”

“…Mewomo et al. (2022) studied the factors affecting FM in public buildings in South Africa and found the primary problems to be issues with funding, limited knowledge in FM, lack of FM policy, deterioration in FM elements, design scope, lack of FM technology services, inappropriate maintenance systems and low quality of FM services and building materials.…”

Municipal facilities managers as strategists

“…Around 60% were using performance indicators and engaged in benchmarking. But views on strategy in the public sector differ globally, and to take just one example, representative or not: “inappropriate strategic leadership and responsibility for driving essential change” emerged as the least important of 22 challenges affecting FM practices in South Africa’s public buildings; the highest ranked challenge was “availability of funds” (Mewomo et al , 2022).…”