Editorial

Citation

Lavy, S. (2014), "Editorial", Facilities, Vol. 32 No. 11/12. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-06-2014-0052

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Facilities, Volume 32, Issue 11/12

This issue of Facilities covers a wide variety of aspects of facility management: private finance initiatives (PFIs) procurement, user behavior in public spaces, target cost contracts and maximum guaranteed price contracts, new office space development, design considerations for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), facility management of elderly care homes, user perceptions of university residence halls and organizational structures in the residential-facility management (FM) sector.

PFI is a well-known procurement method for financing and operating of facilities. A paper by Wang outlines the evolution of PFI since its inception in the 1990s and over the years since then, and conducts a literature review for studies published in this area. The review analyzes the topic from various aspects, including value-for-money and accountability, risks and uncertainty, contractual relationships, design, financing and other managerial issues.

A paper by Siu and Zhao aims to analyze the relationships between freedom and control in public spaces, by conducting a case study of the Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway system. The authors observed 84 railway stations across Hong Kong, where they collected data regarding users’ behavior, person-to-person interaction and person-to-facility interaction. Some worthwhile points that require additional research, such as ethical conduct, are identified in the paper.

Target cost contracts and guaranteed maximum price contracts are relatively new procurement methods in the construction industry. A paper by Chan et al. aims to develop a fuzzy risk assessment model for projects procured with such types of contracts. A set of 34 risk factors associated with these contracts was identified. The authors conducted a survey of construction professionals in South Australia, where its responses led to the development of a fuzzy risk assessment model.

Hong Kong has a unique position in terms of office space in Asia’s economy. A paper by Wadu aims to estimate an empirical model for new office space development based on theoretical treatment of land development and urban growth in Hong Kong. The author proposes a multivariate regression model that identifies significant determinants that influence office development. This analysis emphasizes the importance of non-price measures on the supply side of the office market.

Little consideration is given to people with ID in building guidelines in Australia. A paper by Castell addresses this issue. Background to the formulation of the Australian Disability Standard is provided, which highlights the exclusion of matters relevant to people with ID. This is supplemented by a literature review, which demonstrates the limited availability of evidence-based research. The author offers a viewpoint on factors that have contributed to this lack of attention to the building access needs of people with ID.

A paper by Leung et al. examines the demand for care services for elderly population in Hong Kong. The paper aims to investigate key components of facility management in elderly care homes while applying post occupancy evaluation techniques. Data were collected in the form of a questionnaire survey from seven elderly care homes in Hong Kong. Analysis of the results helped the authors make some recommendations that may be significant to facility managers in such facilities.

A paper by Khozaei et al. aims to identify the users’ perspectives of a university residence hall design. Survey questionnaire data were collected from students in Malaysia, who were asked to indicate their preferences on various space styles. The authors also analyzed differences in student responses based on gender, nationality and study level. This study may assist design professionals in the process of designing residence hall spaces for universities, particularly in terms of student privacy.

Another paper that deals with facility management services for residential buildings is included in this issue. The paper, authored by Huuskonen, aims to explore how large service organizations manage their supply networks in the Finnish residential-FM sector. The theory, which is grounded in literature, was examined by conducting interviews with senior managers of real-estate organizations in Finland, followed by three case studies. The results of this study may help organizations better plan for entering the residential-FM sector.

Sarel Lavy, Co-Editor