David Baldry

Quantitative and qualitative research in the built environment: application of “mixed” research approach

Built environment research consists of cognitive and affective, as well as behavioural, components. Existing built environment research utilises either strong qualitative or, more often, strong quantitative methodologies. Aims to discuss some of the philosophical issues that would be considered when undertaking academic research into the built environment. Considers the available research options or paradigms and suggests ways in which a researcher can make an informed and sensible decision as to how to proceed. The main dimensions of the debate about the relative characteristics and merits of quantitative and qualitative methodology are outlined, developing the argument that the use of a single methodology often fails to explore all of these components. The use of a mixed methods approach is suggested to counteract this weakness and to enhance research into the built environment.

Process improvement through performance measurement : the balanced scorecard methodology

One of the hallmarks of leading‐edge organisations – be they public or private – has been the successful application of performance measurement to gain insight into, and make judgements about, the organisation, and the effectiveness and efficiency of its programmes, processes, and people. The balanced scorecard (BSC) is a widely used management framework for the measurement of organisational performance. The BSC concept suggests that the state of processes of an organisation can be best assessed by taking a “balanced” view across a range of performance measures. This article seeks to offer an insight into the BSC, the key features of the concept and issues that must be addressed in its implementation as a process improvement technique. Further, it identifies the BSC methodology as a means of deploying strategic direction, communicating expectations, and measuring progress towards agreed objectives.

Performance measurement in facililities management and its relationships with management theory and motivation

The application of performance measurement procedures can provide major benefits to organisations. The broad performance measurement need for management applies in a facilities management (FM) context when FM is considered as a subset of general management. To this can be added need which is applicable more narrowly to FM. This paper presents a case for the need for and benefits of performance measurement systems in FM environments. It is discussed together with relevant trends in the performance measurement literature which identify key opportunities in this area. It further discusses the increasing trend towards performance measurement in FM organisations and illustrates the different ways in which authors perceive the relationship between FM and performance measurement. Both motivational and organisational variables are considered and an attempt is made to identify relationships between these issues and performance measurement in FM.

Research knowledge transfer into teaching in the built environment

Purpose – There is no automatic link between research and teaching in higher education institutions. Hence, in order to achieve a productive relationship, these two activities need to be linked through effective mechanisms. The research reported in this paper aims at identifying such strategies that are appropriate to a research‐based department, in the built environment discipline.Design/methodology/approach – The paper identifies key issues related to this challenge through a literature review, and subsequently verifies those issues through an exploratory case study.Findings – The key finding from the study is that research‐based departments are poor at transferring their research knowledge into teaching especially at undergraduate level. Even though there are informal strategies in existence, there is a strong need for formalising them. The paper utilises knowledge transfer and learning literature to fully understand the process.Originality/value – Drawing from the findings, the study develops a framew...

Facilities management outsourcing relationships in the higher education institutes

Purpose – This paper aims to test the nine corollaries concerning the determinants of outsourcing relationship dimensions, strategic manoeuvres, clients’ and service providers’ evaluation regarding outsourcing category and outsourcing relationship types.The paper has the purpose of reviewing the concept of outsourcing in relation to FM, dealing with service providers’ performance and its effect on clients before providing a comprehensive discussion of outsourcing. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual approach is adopted, suggesting that a study of outsourcing relationship between clients and service providers from these theoretical perspectives is used to develop corollaries about the relationships between the strategic manoeuvres identified and the different dimensions of outsourcing relationship. The corollaries are examined using non-parametric tests. Findings – The model of the facilities management (FM) outsourcing relationships presented in the paper shows performance of outsourcing services t...

Conserving cultural values of heritage buildings from the facilities management perspective in Malaysia

Purpose – The paper describes how expert views were elicited in developing a conceptual framework of conserving cultural values of heritage buildings (CVHB) from the facilities management perspective (fm). It proposes the manifestation of fm perspective of people, place, process, and technology as a tool to sustain the physical condition and integrity of a HB and its CV according to fm dimension before a HB is endorsed as a heritage. The linkages between fm and CVHB will help to produce a guideline for conserving CVHB from fm perspective (CVHBfm) at the initial phase of conservation in Malaysia. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The study opted for an exploratory approach; three expert interviews were conducted from three levels of conservation practitioners drawn from strategic, tactical, and operational levels. A matrix thematic was used to manifest the qualitative variables in mapping the conceptual framework. The respondents will provide views and linkages between e...

Demand and supply of FM outsourcing services

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the structure of the category on client-provider outsourcing relationship in relation to facilities management (FM). The paper aims to rank different outsourcing relationship types according to importance with respect to the four critical FM drivers including co-ordination, quality, competence and adequacy. Design/methodology/approach The survey design and measures operationalising the constructs allow the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a technique that tests FM outsourcing in a contingent approach such as a decision processing model. In the questionnaire surveys, a series of structured questions is designed. FM experts used the AHP methodology to analyse the FM outsourcing relationship types. Findings The model of the FM outsourcing strategies presented in the paper shows four main FM drivers at FM practice through the priority ratios of outsourcing relationship dimensions for different FM outsourcing contracts as derived by the AHP discussed by clients’ and service providers’ points of views. The result of a survey from the Hong Kong’s higher education industry reveals that the FM service providers can understand the needs of the clients in FM outsourcing contracts, including building maintenance, cleaning and catering. Hence, the service providers’ expected outsourcing performance will be good in these contracts. However, FM service providers do not understand the needs of FM clients in the FM outsourcing security contracts. Thus, the service providers’ expected outsourcing performance in such contracts will be poor. To improve the outsourcing relationships between the FM stakeholders, service providers must understand their clients’ needs to develop appropriate outsourcing strategies. Originality/value Understanding on the demand and supply of FM outsourcing services is now crucial for effective FM on outsourcing relationships between clients and service providers in higher education sector. The examination of current and prediction of future outsourcing relationships between the stakeholders to match the FM services significantly influence FM outsourcing success. This paper provides an intriguing insight into how the demand and supply of FM services can be successfully and strategically implemented into the FM outsourcing relationship in Hong Kong’s universities and tertiary institutions.