Ebekozien, A; Aigbavboa, C; Samsurijan, M S; Rohayati, M I and Malek, N M (2023) Developing a framework for higher education institution building maintenance via soft system methodology. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(6), pp. 184-200. ISSN 23984708
Abstract
Purpose: Inadequate strategic planning and maintenance budget may undermine the maintenance of the Higher Education Institution Building (HEIB). Studies have shown that a customised maintenance concept such as Soft System Methodology (SSM) can improve public building maintenance operations. There is a paucity of studies regarding public HEIB maintenance in Nigeria via an SSM approach. Therefore, the research investigated the state of public HEIB and developed a framework to improve public HEIB maintenance practices in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopted SSM to understand Nigeria’s public HEIB maintenance practices. The SSM permitted a substitute approach to improve public HEIB maintenance practices via a developed framework. Data were collated via virtual interviews with experts, and findings were presented in line with the SSM seven steps. Findings: Findings show that besides the shoddy state of public HEIB maintenance, there is no public digitalised HEIB framework to improve maintenance practices across Nigeria’s higher education institutions. The study developed a digitalised framework with the support of Computerised Maintenance Management System from the findings. It would reposition the public HEIB and stir up various agencies/departments/units managing maintenance for better service delivery via integrated delivery, practical, methodological and managerial aspects. Originality/value: The research investigated Nigeria’s public HEIB maintenance practices via SSM to identify the required document and propose a feasible framework to improve Nigeria’s HEIB maintenance practices. Besides the developed conceptual framework, Nigeria’s HEIB maintenance practitioners and higher institution chief executives can use the recommended framework as guidelines to improve HEIB maintenance practices.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | budget; framework; higher education institution; maintenance management; Nigeria |
| Index terms: | maintenance management, methodology, executive, practitioner, strategic planning, building maintenance, interview, service delivery, agency, public building, Nigeria, maintenance management system, higher education institution, conceptual framework |
| Subjects: | theoretical framing, data collection methods, service delivery, management, educational institutions, construction type, practitioner, Geography, sociology, research methods, maintenance engineering |
| Topics: | Education, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Technology |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here