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The Mysterious Past of Facilities Management: How Ross Perot Changed Commercial Space
In today's business environment, Facilities Management (FM) has become an integral part of corporate operations. This professional management discipline focuses on the effective and efficient delivery of logistics and other support services related to real estate and buildings. Its diverse features ensure the functionality, comfort, safety and efficiency of the built environment, becoming the basis for modern enterprise operations. However, the origins of it all can be traced back to the 1960s, when business tycoon Ross Perot proposed the concept of facilities management and laid the foundation stone for it.
"Facility management is an important function that integrates people, places and processes to improve the quality of people's lives and the productivity of core businesses."
Ross Perot is the founder of Electronic Data Systems (EDS). His important contribution is that he was the first to combine the term "facility management" with the network management of information technology systems. The concept quickly expanded to encompass all elements of commercial space management. Facilities management was first explicitly proposed as an important component of an organization's strategic planning process in 1979 with a conference sponsored by Herman Miller.
Professional facilities management has evolved over time, with the formation of the National Facilities Management Association (NFMA) in 1980 and later the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) representing the professionalization of the facilities management profession. In addition to the establishment of these organizations, the first professional facilities management organization was also established in the UK in 1986. These initiatives promoted the healthy development of the facility management field.
"The scope of facility management is not limited to space and infrastructure, but also involves the coordination of people and organizations."
Today's facilities management is divided into hardware facilities management and software facilities management, focusing respectively on the physical environment and the needs of people and organizations. Hard facility management mainly covers the planning, design and maintenance of workspaces and building infrastructure, while software facility management focuses on human factors, psychology and occupational physiology factors in business operations.
In this booming field, the role of facilities managers (FMs) is increasingly important. Not only do they need to assist customers and end-users in making high-impact decisions at the strategic and tactical levels, but they also need to provide a safe and effective environment at the operational level to support business operations.
As technology and operational needs change, the functions of facilities management continue to evolve. Many businesses require a facilities management department to identify, analyze and manage environmental and safety-related issues. Not only that, the management of fire safety measures and security systems also fall under this department to ensure the safety of employees and the company.
"Facility management requires planning for the maintenance, testing and inspection of construction equipment to ensure safety and compliance."
In facilities management, however, maintaining productivity is equally critical. Facility managers need to deal with a variety of daily operational issues, including air conditioning temperatures that are too high or too low, lighting malfunctions, and other issues that impact productivity. These issues often require rapid response and resolution, and are managed by Facilities Management's "Help Desk."
Facility management also encompasses deeper business continuity planning. Faced with the threat of fire or major failure, businesses need to have plans in place to quickly resume operations. Facilities management plays a key role in this process, assisting in the development of solutions supported by scientific and engineering principles to ensure the company's rapid response capabilities.
With the global emphasis on sustainable development, facility management is also facing changes. At Global Facilities Management Day 2022, the theme "Leading a Sustainable Future" reminds us of the contribution of facility management professionals in creating a sustainable business environment.
From Ross Perot’s early initiatives to today’s integrated strategies, facilities management has not only changed the way commercial spaces are used, but has also played an important role in improving overall operational efficiency. With the advancement of technology and the evolution of business models, what new challenges and opportunities will facility management face in the future?
