Lindkvist, C and Elmualim, A (2009) Developing new technology in facilities management through knowledge roles. In: Dainty, A R J (ed.) Proceedings of 25th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2009, Nottingham, UK.
Abstract
Facilities management (FM) is a complex discipline involving diverse areas with various responsibilities in maintaining a building. The paper explores how knowledge impacts on the development of technology in this discipline and the role of knowledge in shaping the outcome of the technology. The paper uses service innovation theory to understand the development of technology. The study described in this paper is based on a two-year case study in an in-house FM department at a financial institution. The department is examining a ubiquitous technology in the form of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for security and workspace management. Ethnography methods were used in gathering data as the researcher formed part of the team who were introducing RFID. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used to explore how the technology was developed in two recorded workshops in the FM department. The research identified three knowledge roles: Intrapreneurial knowledge, Actors knowledge and Higher management knowledge. All knowledge roles are necessary in making the technology a relevant application within FM and within the organisation. The findings indicate that actors are necessary in developing how the technology should be used within their area; higher management knowledge is important in ensuring that the technology fits the overall strategy of the organisation and intrapreneurial knowledge was central for combining the knowledge from each role and applying it to the technology. This paper will advise facilities managers on how to organise technology development within the discipline. The study also had some implications on the innovativeness of FM.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | facilities management; service innovation; knowledge; critical discourse analysis |
| Index terms: | new technology, workshop, facilities management, innovation theory, ethnography, critical discourse analysis, management knowledge, technology development, radio frequency identification, case study, strategy, facilities manager, workspace |
| Subjects: | construction type, practitioner, digital technology, data analysis and analytics, professional development, data collection methods, theoretical framing, management, qualitative and interpretive research, innovation and technology management |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Construction Technology, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Business Strategy, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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