In situ perceptions of a move: Facility management interns consider scientist end‐users at a national lab

Abstract

Purpose

The study's purpose was to gather scientist end‐user perceptions of their impending phased move to a new facility within a US national laboratory site.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers, a college faculty member and three undergraduate student interns, visited 59 laboratories and asked an open‐ended question. Based on assessments of subjects' responses, the raters independently assigned ratings to subjects.

Findings

A total of 57 ratings were given by three undergraduate intern raters for 19 scientist subjects. Raters selected the relatively positive, Pragmatic rating for the majority of subjects. Some inter‐rater reliability was found.

Research limitations/implications

The relatively small subject sample and case study nature of this work limits the ability to generalize. However, this case study fills a gap in the body of knowledge regarding scientists' perceptions of laboratory moves and contributes to facility management education by documenting the successful involvement of undergraduates in field studies.

Practical implications

This research provides end‐user evidence necessary for developing or communicating move protocols at this site as well as others. The methodology developed in this study may be adopted at other laboratories and facilities with a large number of knowledge workers.

Social implications

This facility management research strives to support scientists in their work and therefore contributes to the fulfilment of a national laboratory's mission.

Originality/value

This unique study involves undergraduate interns in a research project at a national laboratory and contributes to the understanding of facility management issues related to laboratory environments and scientist end‐users. Prior to this study, little scientific research regarding laboratory end‐users was found.

Citation

Hebert, P.R. (2012), "In situ perceptions of a move: Facility management interns consider scientist end‐users at a national lab", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 114-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/14725961211218758