Evaluating the Role of Facility Managers in the Project Delivery Process

Salford Business School
Evaluating the role of facility managers in the project
delivery process from project design to the construction
management.
Mahmoud D. ABAKAR
Student ID: @00474238
Total word count: 15506
A dissertation is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of The University of
Salford for the degree of MSc Project Management.
January 2019

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Abstract
This research study aims to evaluate the role of building facility managers in the project
delivery process at the design stage. Facility managers can play vital roles during the
design time in delivering projects that are sustainable and easy to maintain. That’s
because facility managers are accountable for planning, operating and also cost-
effectively maintaining the buildings after construction. It is therefore required to have
the operational feedbacks from the facility managers at the design phase to deliver a
project that’s easy to operate and maintain.
The paper aims to discuss the relationship between project design and facility
management. It assesses the role of facility managers at the design stage and how their
involvement can have impacts on delivering sustainable projects.
The research relied on books, journals, and online resources for the secondary data to
analyze the roles of facilities as well as the construction management, and linking these
roles with the project design process. To gather the primary data, a total of 94
participants requested to provide their views through questionnaires where 12 of the
participants were interviewed. The respondents were asked to offer their opinions if the
facility manager’s involvement at the project design stage is essential, and whether his
inputs will lead to a sustainable project. The researcher used a mixed method for
analyzing the data.
The conclusion from the study is that the facility manager’s participation in the project
delivery process should lead to a design that’s sustainable to run and maintain. The
research confirms facilities managers can have valuable roles to play in the project
delivery process at the design phase. The analysis of the information revealed that
design considerations made at the project design stages have led to a facility that is
cost-effective to operate and maintain. These design considerations should take the
facilities management's functions into account at the design stage to ensure delivering a
project that's cost-effective and efficient to run. Although the majority of the facility
managers can contribute to the project delivery process; the research study
recommends to consider only those with adequate experience to work with the design
team. Heravi, Coffey, and Trigunarsyah (2015) stated that inaccurate understanding of
key concepts related to sustainability, lack of the practical experiences provide negative
impacts on the efficiency of the sustainable practices in the design of the facility
management. It's also suggested to integrate the involvement of facility management
expertise at the time of project tendering, particularly for large or complex development
projects, so that contractors who neglect to include facility management professionals in
their proposals be disqualified.
Keywords: Construction management, facilities management, facility manager,
construction work, project defects, project briefing.
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Acknowledgement
Conducting this research has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.
The contribution of this research to enhance my knowledge base and analytical skill has
been paramount. It gave me the opportunity to face challenges in the process and
overcome them. This would not have been possible without the valuable guidance of my
professors, peers and all the people who have contributed to this enriching experience. I
want to take this opportunity to thank my supervisor Mr. David Wheeler for the constant
guidance and support provided to me during the process of this research. It would not
be justified if I did not thank my academic guides for their essential and valuable
assistance and encouragement throughout the research process. I would also like to
thank my friends who had provided me with help and support for collecting primary data
and valuable resources. Finally, I would like to thank the professionals from various
organizations who have participated in the research survey and provided with useful
inputs into the subject. The support of all these people has been inspiring and
enlightening throughout the process of research in the matter.
Heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes
Yours Sincerely,
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Declaration
Programme & Year MSc Project Management, January 2019
Module Dissertation
Supervisor Mr. David Wheeler
Briefly, unfair means in assessed work is likely to fall into one or more of the following
categories:
 Plagiarism.
Plagiarism involves taking the work of another person or source and using it as if it were
one’s own. Work includes, but is not restricted to, written work, ideas, musical
compositions, computer programs, laboratory or survey results, diagrams, graphs,
drawings and designs.
 Collusion.
Collusion involves working with others on tasks that should be carried out on an
individual basis. Collusion should not be confused with collaborative work which is
sometimes used as a means of learning. It will be clearly stated when collaborative work
is permitted in an assessment. Unless advised otherwise, any work which is submitted
for assessment must be produced by individual students.
 Falsifying experimental or other investigative results.
This could involve a range of things that make it appear that information has been
collected by scientific investigation, the compilation of questionnaire results, etc.
whereas in reality it has been made up or altered to provide a more favorable result.
 Contracting another to write a piece of assessed work.
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This involves any means whereby a person does work on behalf of another. It includes
assessments done for someone else in full or in part by a fellow student, a friend or
family member. It includes sitting an examination for someone else. It also covers
obtaining material from Internet ‘cheat sites’ or other sources of work. Penalties for this
type of unfair means are likely to apply both to a student who does work on behalf of
another and one who has work done for him/her.
By submitting my work here I declare that:
 this work is my own
 if this is a group project, each student has contributed to the work in accordance
with the set criteria
 the work of others used in its completion has been duly acknowledged
 experimental or other investigative results have not been falsified
 I have read and understood the University Policy on the Conduct of Assessed
Work (Academic Misconduct Procedure) -
http://www.salford.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/653648/AcademicMiscondu
ctProcedure.pdf
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of this policy and procedure.
Signature _________________________
Name (print) MAHAMOUD DAOUD ABAKAR
ID Number Date @00474238 Date February 25, 2019
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction...................................................................................................10
1.1 Background of the research..................................................................................10
1.2 Research aims and objectives..............................................................................11
1.3 Research question................................................................................................12
1.4 Rationale of the study...........................................................................................12
1.5 Hypothesis............................................................................................................13
1.6 Proposed methodology.........................................................................................13
1.7 Limiting and delimiting factors...............................................................................14
1.8 Outline of the report structure...............................................................................15
Chapter 2: Literature Review......................................................................................... 17
2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 17
2.2 Overview of facility management..........................................................................19
2.3 Role of facilities management in building projects................................................22
2.3.1 Environmental conditions...............................................................................23
2.3.2 Maintenance, clean and ground maintenance...............................................25
2.3.3 Communication and control system...............................................................25
2.3.4 Building management system........................................................................25
2.3.5 Space planning and management.................................................................26
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2.3.6 Benchmarking................................................................................................27
2.4 Integrated systems approach influence the design process.................................28
2.4.1 Integrated system.......................................................................................... 28
2.4.2 Management oriented system........................................................................29
2.5 Role and rationale of facility management expertise in project design process and
construction management...........................................................................................30
2.6 Summary.............................................................................................................. 36
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.................................................................................39
3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 39
3.2 Research philosophy............................................................................................ 39
3.3 Research approach...............................................................................................40
3.4 Research design...................................................................................................41
3.5 Data collection method and techniques................................................................41
3.5.1 Data collection methods.................................................................................41
3.5.2 Data techniques.............................................................................................42
3.6 Sampling and population...................................................................................... 43
3.7 Timeline................................................................................................................ 44
3.8 Ethical considerations...........................................................................................46
3.9 Research limitations..............................................................................................47
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3.10 Summary............................................................................................................ 48
Chapter 4: Results and Discussion................................................................................50
4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 50
4.2 Quantitative data analysis.....................................................................................50
4.2.1 Regression analysis.......................................................................................73
4.3 Qualitative data analysis.......................................................................................81
4.4 Summary.............................................................................................................. 84
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations..............................................................85
5.1 Conclusion............................................................................................................85
5.2 Recommendations................................................................................................88
Chapter 6: Limitation of study and scope for further research.......................................90
6.1 Limitations of study...............................................................................................90
Appendix........................................................................................................................ 97
1. Survey Questionnaire............................................................................................. 97
2. Ethics Approval Application Form.........................................................................103
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