Improving decision making in CRE alignment, by using a preference-based accommodation strategy design approach

Abstract

Purpose One of the long-standing issues in the field of corporate real estate management is the alignment of an organisation’s real estate to its corporate strategy. To date, 14 models for corporate real estate (CRE) alignment have been made, as well as four comparative studies about CRE alignment. Some of the CRE alignment models indicate that they strive for maximum or optimum added value. However, because most models take a so-called procedural rationality approach, where the focus is not on the content of the decision but on the way that the decision is made, “how a CRE manager can select an (optimum) alternative” stays a black box. The purpose of this paper is to open the black box and offer a Preference-based Accommodation Strategy (PAS) design procedure that enables CRE managers to design a real estate portfolio, makes use of scales for direct measurement of added value/preference, and allows the aggregation of individual ratings into an overall performance rating. This procedure can be used as add-on to existing alignment models. Design/methodology/approach The objective of this paper is to test if participants are able to successfully perform the PAS procedure in practice. The PAS procedure is in essence a design methodology that aims to solve strategic portfolio design/decision-making problems. In accordance with problem-solving methodology, mathematical models are made for two pilot studies at the Delft University of Technology. This paper describes a second test of the proposed procedure for designing a real estate strategy. The application of real estate strategy design methods in practice is very context-dependent. Applying the PAS procedure to multiple context-dependent cases yields more valuable results than just applying it to one case. Findings The PAS design procedure enables CRE managers to select the (optimal) solution and thereby enhances CRE decision-making. The pilot study results reveal that, by completing the steps in the PAS procedure, the participants are able to express their preferences accordingly. They designed an alternative portfolio with substantially more added value, i.e. a higher overall preference score, than their current real estate portfolio. In addition, they evaluated the design method positively. Research limitations/implications The positive results suggest that designing a strategy by using the PAS design procedure is a suitable approach to alignment. Practical implications The PAS design procedure enables CRE managers to determine the added value of a real estate strategy and quickly and iteratively design many alternatives. Moreover, the PAS design method is generic, it can be used for a wide range of real estate portfolio types. Originality/value The PAS procedure is original because it considers CRE alignment as a combined design and decision problem. The use of operational design and problem-solving methodologies along with an iterative procedure, instead of empirical/statistical methods and procedures, is a novel approach to CRE alignment. The PAS procedure is tested in a second pilot study to provide an assessment of the methodology through the study by testing it under different conditions to the first study. The novelty of this pilot is also that it allowed testing the procedure in its purest form, as the problem structure did not require the additional use of linear programming.

A Handbook of Management Theories and Models for Office Environments and Services

“…Hall & Davis, 2007). For instance, pilot studies have been developed to test Preference-based Accommodation Strategy (PAS) design in a university campus by involving four main stakeholder categories (based on Den Heijer, 2011), such as in Arkesteijn et al (2017), as well as to measuring facility performance in local government by involving four stakeholder groups, such as in Brackertz and Kenley (2002). Overall, it is recommended to use a multiple-case study in order to reach more valuable results than from applying a pilot to only one case, which risks showing context-dependent results.…”

“…Even though some pilot studies (e.g. Arkesteijn et al, 2017) confirm that stakeholders appreciate decisions that are not taken on a gut feeling or determined by power relations, theories and methods need to be advanced to evaluate the current situation in the physical work environment against alternative solutions, while considering multiple needs.…”

Supporting strategic decision-making on the future campus with space utilisation studies: a case study

“…This process is called “alignment”. Although much is written on alignment, it is still considered a “long standing problem” in CREM theory (Arkesteijn, 2019; Heywood, 2011). Heywood and Arkesteijn (2018) find through a study of the literature that the alignment models are different in their conceptualisation.…”

Identifying the criteria for corporate real estate decisions through the laddering technique: an analysis of care organisations in The Netherlands

“…The alignment between corporate real estate (CRE) and the broader organisational strategy is an ongoing topic of interest in the field of CRE management (Heywood and Arkesteijn, 2017). There are several CRE alignment models available in the literature (Arkesteijn et al , 2017), each with a unique viewpoint on how to make strategic CRE decisions. The building characteristics or organisational values that should be prioritised depends on the ambitions and objectives of the organisation, the level of importance that various user groups attach to the positive and negative effects of design alternatives, constraints such as time, money and legislation, and the external context (Van der Voordt, 2016).…”

“…Presently, it is not clear which key values are incorporated into the nursing home real estate decision-making process and how the concept of added strategic value is adopted in daily practice (Van der Voordt, 2016). In addition, the alignment of real estate decisions with corporate strategies in general is poorly understood (Arkesteijn et al , 2017), as alignment studies focus on the theory of alignment without considering the decision-making process. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to obtain insight into the decision-making process of nursing home CRE managers and specific strategic benefits they seek when managing real estate portfolios.…”