FACILITY MANAGEMENT

Managing Business Facilities



Managing Business Facilities

Introduction

Management is the factor that determines the success or failure of any facility, and the quality of management also determines if a facility is able to attract customers, if it is profitable for the tenants, and if strategic goals and objectives are attained. Concerning the property situation, facilities can range from those owned by the state or municipality to privately owned facilities. Because of the diversity of facilities, facility management for venues can come in different forms and have different missions and goals to fulfill. In this paper, as a facility manager, I have to manage the facilities of a university and college. There are some of the facilities of the university and the college which are shared by both. This paper highlights the problems faced by the facility member, room allocation and ethics of the management.

Facility Management

Facility management in particular entails working with several stakeholders; internal and external constituents who come from different fields and have a variety of interests in the respective facility. A facility manager therefore must have many highly specific skills, and certain managerial functions need to be fulfilled. Because of the diversity of activities in campuses, there is also a variety of facilities, for example, stadiums, and arenas, domes, and sports halls (Smith et al, 2000, pp. 96). Hence, facilities are characterized by a number of special features that have to be taken into account when planning and managing a facility, since facility type also dictates the management of it (e.g., if the facility is intended only for one sport or for various sports).

Facilities management is also concerned with areas such as project management, property management, leasing arrangements, marketing, maintenance, and building and operation management. Hence, the responsibilities of facilities management also include serving tenants' needs; providing a clean and comfortable environment for customers; ensuring that food and beverages are available; providing security, maintenance, and cleanup; overseeing facility marketing, advertising, and public relations; and selecting appropriate management staff. A further task of facilities management is to focus on the hardware needed for a smooth operation of the facility, meaning to make sure that the existing facility runs safely for the intended purpose. Examples are ensuring there are enough parking lots or that the elevators and walkways function well and are safe (Robertson, 2008, pp. 89).

Role of a Facility Manager

Facilities have many components requiring management, and the facility manager has numerous duties that mainly depend on the facility's size and ownership structure. There are several alternatives for managing facilities that range from operating facilities by their owners, by primary or anchor tenants, by private management companies, or by not-for-profit organizations. Several issues (e.g., scheduling, leases, financial negotiations, concessions, service controls, and environment) are impacted by the type of management a facility uses. If, for example, the facility is owned and operated by the government, a lot of regulations exist that lead to a restrictive operational environment (Teicholz, 2001, pp. 155).

Among the core legal issues involved with a facility ...