Critical Analysis of Asset Management Framework in Higher Institutions of Higher Learning

Critical analysis of asset management framework
Infrastructural asset management has been accorded different definitions with different
institutions and entities formulating their scope of assets management in the way that best fit the
organizational operations. The research considered consolidation of different opinions and views
on how infrastructural assets are being managed in tertiary institutions within Fiji. The plot study
carried out in two major institutions of higher learning that is the Fiji National University and the
University of South pacific. The elements of the framework model for the assets management
requires a comprehensive and formally identified concept of managing available assets with the
desired organizational attributes. Through asset management audits, the current performance and
maturity of institutions on assets handling are improved.
Public institutional assets management involve analysis of items of differing ages, origin and
performance condition are more sophisticated in the application of management techniques as
compared to manufacturing or aviation assets management. Most institutions heve data
information systems for capital planning and work flow management their systems are
maintained siloed and piloted in real time data monitoring thus helping management officials to
understand the sector that requires critical attention in terms of assets management. Furthermore,
risk-aversion can be a common weakness in many infrastructure organizations that contributes to
an inability to implement AM in a sufficiently holistic way. Often, organizations adopt parts of a
comprehensive AM program, such as predictive maintenance processes, but fail to put them
together in a way that would provide significant benefit. Integrated systems that can handle
semantically linked data promise to provide tools necessary for better asset management

In context of institutional assets management framework, the process of analysis can see the
assets integrated into different categories such as assets reliability, assets life cycle and delivery
planning, assets maintenance management, planning and scheduling, spare and material
management, assets reliability, skills development and assessment, contracted services and
computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). The research incorporated a pilot
use-case in the implementation of BIM framework in asset management which include the
assessment on the operations and functionality of lecture halls, hostels, cafeteria, etc. The
methodology of research was conducted in the context of infrastructural quality and operational
condition assessment with aim of quantifying the level of asset management in the two selected
institutions. It incorporated the evaluation of the infrastructure performance as indicator of the
status of structural assets then technical and equipment condition to eventually obtain the best
modelling technique that can be implemented in managing the institutional assets.
In context of assets’ maintenance, Performance Information Modelling PIM was used to asses
and evaluates the maintenance level of infrastructural assets in all the campuses of the involved
universities. The data obtained was projected to be representation of the asset management
condition in other tertiary institutions in Fiji. The epistemology stance adopted for the research is
guided by positivism paradigm with some elements of interpretivist combined to explore the
nature of problems in managing infrastructure assets in tertiary institution, identifying the
influencing factors and gaining some insights to develop strategies for addressing the problems.
Choosing the right methodology for research would be the best strategy, devising the action
plans in justifying the research outcome through the use of analytical techniques. The research
methodology is very critical component to formulate data interpretation and analysis that
substantiate the design and method used to gather data, i.e. quantitative and qualitative

approaches used to determine the research outcome and findings The qualitative research
methodology will be adapted for data interpretation and analysis findings by the use of
systematic process and the ability to acquire research findings and expected outcomes.
Interviews were used as means of obtaining source information from key stakeholders and
participants in the two institutions to enable qualitative observations on conditional assessment
of the infrastructure assets to have the necessary information for completion of this report. The
interview questions for stakeholders such as students majorly focused on the user satisfaction on
the infrastructure assets within their institutions, the students for interview were randomly
selected and only ten from each institution were interviewed to give their opinion on the current
condition of building and structures since they are the main users of these facilities Seeking their
suggestion on improvements in terms of facility compliance, security, disability friendly, views
on addressing risk and hygiene issues, and maintenance support functions. The use of qualitative
approach shall facilitate the means of conducting interviews using list of questionnaires – set of
rated questions used to rank or categories the infrastructure assets and facilities at the two tertiary
institutions and their recommendations for improvements, and benchmarking with other
international University to find the gaps and measures for practical solutions.
Furthermore, corresponding patterns of data captured were tabulated for analysis with the help of
excel spreadsheet software, enabling to perform the function of showing pie chart, bar graphs
and scatter graphical representations. The statistical analysis helps with performing analysis,
such as calculation of the sample size and illustrating this into graphical representations,
establishing the percentage figures or ratios based on the sample size. The use of pie charts, bar
graphs or histograms helps to understand the research analysis, patterns and relationships

between the data values, trends and distribution figures and the comparisons of the
interdependencies between variables.
Performance assessment methods were used to establish the management level of the
institution’s infrastructure and the procedures and systems that were used to ensure that facilities
are in good shape were also analyzed and comparison made and of all The strategic view to life
cycle value of asset is based on long term cost and performance objectives, driven by the asset
management policy – these establishes the framework and guidelines to sustainability and
reliability performance of the asset.
Findings and results
The study and research fused a systematic approach of how best to maintain, upgrade and how to
have an efficient operational condition of institutional assets in the most cost effective manner.
In results and findings are as result of combining engineering and technological principles with
sound economic theory and organised business practices to come up with an efficient tool that
would facilitate a more logical and organised decision making approach thus providing a
framework for both long term and short term asset management and planning.
The research involved different survey technique, and the random interview recorded a total of
34 stakeholders were interviewed, among them 20 being students from the two universities, 6
from managerial positions from Fiji national university and 4 from the university of south
pacific. The response to the research questioners were then sampled, where similar opinions
were recorded and tabulation developed in terms of percentage.
Components of asset management systems