Facilities

Jansz, Sascha Naomi; van Dijk, Terry; Mobach, Mark P.

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-03-2020-0031

The purpose of this paper is to investigate which critical success factors (CSFs) influence interaction on campuses as identified by the facility directors (FDs) of Dutch university campuses and to discuss how these compare with the literature.Design/methodology/approachAll 13 Dutch university campus FDs were interviewed (office and walking interview), focussing on CSFs relating to spaces and services that facilitate interaction. Open coding and thematic analysis resulted in empirically driven categories indicated by the respondents. Similarities and differences between the CSFs as previously identified in the literature are discussed.FindingsThe following categories emerged: constraints, motivators, designing spaces, designing services, building community and creating coherence. The campus is seen as a system containing subsystems and is itself part of a wider system (environment), forming a layered structure. Constraints and motivators are part of the environment but cannot be separated from the other four categories, as they influence their applicability.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to interviews with FDs and related staff. The richness of the findings shows that this was a relevant and efficient data collection strategy for the purpose of this study.Practical implicationsBy viewing the campus as an open system, this study puts the practical applicability of CSFs into perspective yet provides a clear overview of CSFs related to campus interaction that may be included in future campus design policies.Social implicationsThis (more) complete overview of CSFs identified in both literature and practice will help FDs, policymakers and campus designers to apply these CSFs in their campus designs. This improved campus design would increase the number of knowledge sharing interactions, contributing to innovation and valorisation. This could create a significant impact in all research fields, such as health, technology or well-being, benefitting society as a whole.Originality/valueThis study provides a comprehensive overview and comparison of CSFs from both literature and practice, allowing more effective application of CSFs in campus design policies. A framework for future studies on CSFs for interaction on campuses is provided.

Xidous, Dimitra; Grey, Tom; Kennelly, Sean P.; O’Neill, Desmond

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-01-2020-0012

This exploratory study stems from research conducted between 2015–2018 focussing on dementia-friendly design (DFD) in hospitals (Grey T. et al. 2018). Specifically, this study focusses on facilities management (FM) staff in Irish hospitals to gain a preliminary understanding of the level of knowledge and engagement of FM in the implementation of dementia-friendly hospital (DFH) design.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach based on a series of ad hoc semi-structured interviews, and an online survey. The aims were, namely, assess the extent of FM engagement in hospital works; measure the level of awareness regarding DFD; and identify facilitators and barriers to DFD in hospital settings. Participants (74) comprised FM staff in 35 Irish acute care hospitals. The research findings are based on thematic analysis of ad hoc semi-structured interviews (participants, n = 4) and survey responses (participants, n = 13).FindingsWhile FM staff reported to possess important knowledge for building DFH, they also mentioned a lack of engagement of FM in design processes and hospital works.Practical implicationsThe research has gained insight into the role of FM in promoting a dementia-friendly approach. Lack of or poor engagement of FM in design processes and hospital works means not fully tapping into rich expertise that would be invaluable in the development, implementation and maintenance of DFH. Universal design is a key driver for facilitating their engagement in the design, implementation and maintenance of DFH environments.Originality/valueThis is the first study exploring the role of FM in supporting a DFD approach in acute care hospitals.

Salem, Dalia; Elwakil, Emad

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-05-2020-0060

This research’s main objective is to develop an expert-based approach to rank critical asset assessment factors for health-care facilities. This approach will improve the asset management of health-care buildings. This paper aims to study and prioritize the relative importance of asset criticality factors.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology begins with a comprehensive literature review of state-of-the-art health-care facilities management, asset management tools, critical asset assessment and approaches to model techniques. Then, using the expert-based opinion and the collected data through the analytical hierarchy process approach to developing the asset assessment model contains physical, environmental, general safety and revenue loss assessment models.FindingsResults showed that the general safety factors and the sub-factors of life safety and physical safety contributed to asset condition assessment.Practical implicationsThe proposed critical asset assessment ranking will benefit health-care facility organizations by assessing their asset performance according to capital renewal needs.Originality/valueThis study offers a novel conceptual framework to understand and determine rank critical asset assessment factors for health-care facilities.

Palm, Peter

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-03-2020-0025

This paper aims to investigate how the students perceive the cleaning of the university, from an in-house and outsourced perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on a survey conducted in the different university buildings with a total of 240 students. The survey was then analysed through an ordinal regression.FindingsThe ordinal regression indicates a statistically significant result were student are more satisfied with the cleaning performed by the outsourced service provider.Research limitations/implicationsThe research in this paper is limited to one Swedish university. But, the overall strategies for how to organise the cleaning service at the university do address all universities. However, the research is limited and more research has to be performed.Practical implicationsThe insight the paper provides regarding how the students perceive the cleaning service at the university gives direct implications to university in relation to how to consider the cleaning service as an important factor.Originality/valueIt provides the first study from a student perspective on the question of cleaning of the university, when previous studies have indicated cleaning as an important function not least to student’s performance and academic results.

Roskams, Michael; Haynes, Barry

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-07-2020-0090

The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory (Demerouti et al., 2001; Bakker and Demerouti, 2017) is an appropriate conceptual framework for understanding the physical environment for work.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual analysis of the multidisciplinary workplace literature was performed to assess the core propositions of JD-R theory as they relate to the workplace environment.FindingsThe analysis confirms that the workplace environment can be viewed as a composite of environmental demands (which instigate a health impairment process) and environmental resources (which trigger an engagement process). Employees proactively try to improve the suitability of their workspace through environmental crafting, motivated by minimising demands and maximising resources.Originality/valueThe application of JD-R theory to the workplace environment fills a gap in the literature for a framework which captures the dynamic nature of the employee-workplace relationship.

Ho, Wai Tung; Yu, Fu Wing

2021 Facilities

doi: 10.1108/f-09-2020-0107

This study aims to apply association rule mining (ARM) to uncover specific associations between operating components of a chiller system and improve its coefficient of performance (COP), hence reducing the electricity use of buildings with central air conditioning.Design/methodology/approachFirst, 13 operating variables were identified, comprising measures of temperatures and flow rates of system components and their switching statuses. The variables were grouped into four bins before carrying out ARM. Strong rules were produced to associate the variables and switching statuses with different COP classes.FindingsThe strong rules explain existing constraints on practising chiller sequencing and prioritise variables for optimisation. Based on strong rules for the highest COP class, the optimal operating strategy involves rescheduling chillers and their associated components in pairs during a high load operation. Resetting the chilled water supply temperature is the next best strategy, followed by resetting the condenser water entering temperature, subject to operating constraints.Research limitations/implicationsThis study considers the even frequency method with four bins only. Replication work can be done with other discretisation methods and different numbers of classes to compare potential differences in the bin ranges of the optimised variables.Practical implicationsThe strong rules identified by ARM highlight associations between variables and high or low COPs. This supports the selection of critical variables and the operating status of system components to maximise the COP. Tailor-made optimisation strategies and the associated electricity savings can be further evaluated.Originality/valuePrevious studies applied ARM for chiller fault detection but without considering system performance under the interaction of different components. The novelty of this study is its demonstration of ARM’s intelligence at discovering associations in past operating data. This enables the identification of tailor-made energy management opportunities, which are essential for all engineering systems. ARM is free from the prediction errors of typical regression and black-box models.