P6_FM

What is Facility Management in 2021?

The answer should be straightforward, since an international standard, ISO 41011, which defines FM perfectly, has been in place since 2017. The difficulty arises when more than 55% of professionals in the sector state they are unfamiliar with this series of regulations. This issue is addressed in the report “FM awareness survey 2021” with over 2,300 responses from 89 countries. The rate of nescience may exceed 90% globally, if we take into account, firstly, that the channel used was LinkedIn, where we often mention the progress of standardisation work, and secondly, that there are thousands of professionals who are not on this network, and who are probably not even conscious of its existence.

My house, my rules

To understand what Facility Management is in practical terms, despite there being a standard definition, one must bear in mind that it depends on how it is interpreted and above all how it is applied. This is invariably dictated by each company, depending on its line of business and the knowledge it has of FM at a decision-making level.

Concerning the sector, it will always be more common to see it implemented in corporate office spaces rather than in industrial environments, although FM can be applied in all realms. These can include education, shopping centres or healthcare real estate. The focus will be different in every case, but there will always be a more or less advanced FM model.

The scope of knowledge that each firm, or rather each general manager, has of FM will determine which services remain in the area, what it is called or to whom the department reports following company hierarchy. This knowledge can also influence how services are grouped or ungrouped, the resources assigned to them and how competencies are distributed, executed in the same way as with the structure of other departments in the organisation.

Environmental influence

Not everything depends on the company itself when it comes to the size of the department and the activities within the Facility Management area. The degree of maturity of each country is a determining factor. We work with more than 20 indicators to measure how advanced a market is, but in this case, those that best apply are legislation, the existence of suitable suppliers and the relevance of international companies which can establish a roadmap with their models. Whether the country has participated in the standardisation process is also factored in, since this may have helped spread the message among local industry professionals.

All this means that the way Facility Management is implemented may be different in two similar companies, even if the official definition of the discipline is the same. That will be the starting point for each firm, and one it must be aware of if it wants to evolve towards more advanced models. On that account, it is important to take all these factors into consideration.

What will become of Facility Management?

This is a difficult question to answer. After the recognition achieved through the pandemic, we must not be sidetracked by simple flattery during what is now known as “the fourth wave”. Technology is the future but for the time being, FM is not technological. That is not to say that suppliers are not laying the groundwork, which they are. The question is, who is going to make the decisions in companies? The scope and competencies covered by FM will not cease to exist, but the name and the professionals as we know them may. In this regard, universities and Facility Management courses fail to provide sufficient training. If the future of our profession currently lies in lecture rooms and other learning spaces, when these students finish their studies there will be others who are better prepared and who will occupy positions that require knowledge that the former have not acquired. It would not be the first time that the IT department, or until recently the computer science department, has overtaken us without us noticing.

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Participate in the Observatorio FM

You can choose between these 3 options to participate:





How to participate?

Collaborating with the Observatorio FM is a personal and voluntary decision, and there is no contractual obligation or economic retribution for it.

Any interested person can apply to participate as a leader of a new project, or apply as a collaborator in an existing one.

A technical committee will evaluate the subject matter of the proposed projects and the applications of the participants, deciding which ones are carried out and by whom.

Each person decides how much they want to dedicate, depending on their availability or type of project. The aim is for it to be an altruistic activity and not an additional workload.

What does it consist of?

To promote and publish studies that help professionals in the sector and to help others understand our profession and discipline.

The results and deliverables are shared openly, always acknowledging the contributions of all authors and contributors.

The Observatorio FM’s activity will respect the objectivity, ethics, rigour and good practices that govern our Research area.

Contributors have access to the best collaborative tools, sectoral information and contacts, as well as the assistance of expert consultants and researchers at international level.

Research

FM Observatory

FM Observatory is a platform which develops and disseminates Facility Management information. It’s accessible to all those who’d genuinely like to participate. Ethical use and objectivity are essential, and all results must be shared. You decide how long you devote to it and what you want to achieve.

You can participate as:

We will provide:

All contributions will be given credit in completed projects.

Research

Projects

We are part of the European research group and we work in international teams to develop different types of initiatives:

We also work for service providers who require support with decisions linked to:

Research

Standardisation

As accredited experts in the drafting processes of European and International standards on Asset and Facility Management, we are the perfect partner to assist you with:

FMHOUSE is the only Spanish-speaking consulting firm that participates in these processes.

Research

Publications

At FMHOUSE we think that progress made in Facility Management should be shared, so we strive to produce and publish the following material:

The “FM Observatory” is open, should you like to contribute with a publication.

Consultancy

Workplace

Our view of spaces or workplaces from a Facility Management perspective leads to a better understanding of such a need as a service, as it is essential to apply the same logic and methodology.

Generally we offer:

We apply our knowledge and experience to offices, learning spaces, shopping centres and the industrial environment.

Consultancy

Benchmarking

In order to make the right decisions, clear accurate market data as well as facts about the organisation itself is essential. In the Facility Management environment, this is even more critical due to the impact it has on business.

Examples of benchmarks:

These services are requested mainly by end users, but also by service providers.

Consultancy

Customer Experience

Facility Management’s overarching goal is customer satisfaction, whether they are internal or external. Understanding their feelings and needs is the key to offering a good service.

Our support is based on:

We strive to understand and get to know our clients’ customers, in all sectors and types of businesses.

Consultancy

Digital Transformation

The Facility Management world is experiencing a major transition to digital environments. We help our clients understand how it impacts them and assist them throughout the change.

Our areas of support are:

We operate as independent advisers, not as brand vendors.

We advise end-users and service providers.

Consultancy

Service Design

All kinds of companies need to define or improve the way in which it structures supporting activities provided by Facility Management.

Our main products are:

Our proposals are structured according to individual requirements.

We help end customers and also service providers.

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